Board approves Wiggins as next city schools superintendent
Published 12:59 pm Monday, December 9, 2019
- Pat Donahue/Times-EnterpriseBen Wiggins, left, with Thomasville City Schools board chairman Todd Bennett, was named Monday morning as the next superintendent of city schools.
THOMASVILLE — Thomasville City Schools board members approved Ben Wiggins as the next superintendent in a Monday morning vote.
School board members voted unanimously on the recommendation to hire Wiggins, named last month as the sole finalist.
Wiggins currently is the principal at Oconee County High School in Watkinsville.
“We’re very excited,” Wiggins, who was joined by his wife at Monday’s meeting, said, “We can’t wait to get down here and be part of the Thomasville community. We can’t wait to meet all the people, all stakeholders in the community.”
Wiggins is expected to start in January, possibly as early as Jan. 6.
Prior to becoming principal at Oconee County High School, Wiggins was principal at Pelham High School. He also was a teacher, coach and assistant principal at Colquitt County High School from 1996-2003.
Wiggins has been principal at Oconee County High School for five years.
“Everywhere I’ve been, it’s been about relationships,” he said. “That’s going to be the hardest part, to leave those students, faculty, staff, parents and community. That’s going to be the hardest part. And it already is.
“It’s hard when students come up to you and talk to you. When I left Pelham to go to Oconee that was the hardest part. Relationships are what make this job special.”
Wiggins has a bachelor’s in sociology from Samford University and earned a master’s in social studies secondary education from the University of Montevallo. He also has a specialist degree in education leadership.
Prior to becoming principal at Oconee County High School, Wiggins was principal at Pelham High School. He also was a teacher, coach and assistant principal at Colquitt County High School from 1996-2003.
Lance Heard served as interim superintendent through October, and Tina McBride had been acting superintendent since.
From his time at Pelham, Wiggins has experience working in a county with separate city and county school systems.
“I look forward to us having a wonderful relationship the county school system,” he said.
Editor Pat Donahue can be reached at (229) 226-2400 ext. 1806.
