A true servant of public education, Bulloch County Board of Education Chairman Mike Sparks, announced on Friday that he will not seek another term in office.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of my 12 years on the Board,” said Sparks. “I’ve served almost 50 years in education, and after much prayer, I believe it is time for me to step aside and allow others to serve. I believe in asking God for direction, and it has been confirmed to me that it’s time.”
He shared that he has much that he still wants to accomplish at the Ogeechee River Baptist Association’s W. W. Mann Retreat and Conference Center, where he serves as director, and at his church, Trinity Baptist in Nevils. He also wants to spend more time with his son who lives in Florida.
Sparks was elected to serve District 2 in November 2010, and was sworn into office on January 13, 2011. A former educator who retired in 2004 after 30 years with the school district, he filled the seat formerly held by Dr. Scott Bohlke. He was elected by his Board peers this month to serve a fifth year-long term as chairman of the Board. He also previously served as vice-chairman for 2012 and 2015.
Affectionately known as Coach Sparks by school district employees, many of whom are his former students and co-workers, he was an educator for 25 years at Southeast Bulloch High School and five years at Southeast Bulloch Middle School where he taught social studies, health and physical education and physical sciences. He also served as an athletic director and remains an avid supporter of Southeast Bulloch High athletics.
He received a bachelor’s degree in Education from Georgia Southern University where he majored in Physical Education.
“I believe we have a great school system and Central Office,” Sparks said. “I am very proud of our school district and how we serve this community.”
There are many educational initiatives that have been implemented by the Board in large part to his leadership and advocacy. A few of those include international re-accreditation as a school district, formation of a community facilities committee to guide identification of projects for a fourth education special purpose local option sales tax and completion of those projects, formation of a community cultural diversity committee and initiatives inside the district to define diversity and increase the pool of culturally diverse applicants for certified faculty positions, and establishment of the REACH Georgia Scholarship program that has made college possible for 45 students since 2013.
“I cannot adequately express the appreciation I have for Coach Sparks and all that he has done for the boys and girls of this school system,” said Charles Wilson, Superintendent of Schools. “He has a true heart for the community’s children, and we will miss him. But I know he will remain involved.”
Chairman Sparks’ term of office ends on December 31, 2022. According to Shontay Jones, Election Supervisor for the Bulloch County Elections and Voter Registration Department, qualifying for non-partisan seats on the Board of Education will begin March 7, at 9 a.m. and end at 12 noon on March 11. The election dates for 2022 are May 24, for the General Primary, Nonpartisan General Election and Special Election, and June 21, for the General Primary, Nonpartisan General Election and Special Election Runoff.
