Superintendent Sharon Patterson has more than 30 years of leadership experience in public education as a teacher, principal and system administrator.
Prior to her arrival in Bibb County in 1997, Mrs. Patterson held leadership positions in the Chapel Hill, North Carolina area and in metropolitan Atlanta, where she worked for 20 years. While a principal at East Cobb Middle School, the school was named both a Georgia and a Blue Ribbon National School of Excellence.
Sharon Patterson has attracted statewide recognition for her leadership role in promoting student academic achievement through systemic change. She was selected to serve on the Executive Committee and the Coordinating Board of the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement. The public/private partnership provides unique leadership development programs that blend best practices from business and education.
She has received several awards, among them the 2005 Bill Barr Leadership Award presented by Georgia School Superintendents Association; the National Award of Merit from Boys and Girls Club of America for her community service; Woman of Achievement - Career Women’s Network and the Circle of Friends Award from the American Cancer Society for outstanding service. She was recently named the 2006 Georgia Superintendent of the Year; and was one of four finalists for National Superintendent of the Year.
Sharon Patterson is actively involved with Macon Economic Development Commission. She is the first Bibb County Superintendent to serve on the Commission. She works closely with the business community to make sure Bibb County Public School students are graduating with the skills needed by local industry. IBM invited Mrs. Patterson to study at the Harvard Business School for Change Leadership.
Mrs. Patterson also serves on the Executive Board of Urban Superintendent’s Association of America as President-Elect; Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education - Board of Directors; Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce; Georgia Leadership for School Improvement - Executive Board; the Macon-Bibb County Health Department; and is a trustee at the Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences.
Mrs. Patterson holds degrees from the University of Missouri in Columbia and the University of Missouri in St Louis. She also has a six year Specialist Degree from the State University of West Georgia.
Sharon Patterson and her husband Richard, have one son.