A familiar face launches 2nd bid for GA schools chief, backed by Macon leader

Democrat Otha Thornton Jr. is running for Georgia state superintendent of schools for the second time, and has drawn support from at least one Macon leader.

As the field for next year’s election takes shape, Thornton officially announced his candidacy Thursday in Atlanta, aiming to bring his “decades of leadership and consensus-building experience to get our schools back to basics,” according to a press release.

As a parent of two and grandparent of two, Thornton said education is important and he sees how it can make a powerful difference in children’s lives.

Thornton, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel with 21 years of service, describes himself as an advocate for education. He said he has been active in school districts statewide, including Bibb County Schools, working with pre-employment and transition services for students.

“At Northeast and Howard High, I’ve been working with the special education students, teaching them soft skills like how to advocate for themselves, how to handle microaggressions, how to manage anxiety (and) how to increase interviewing skills for jobs,” Thornton told The Telegraph.

Some Bibb County School District high school students will attend the Georgia National Fair in the coming days to participate in college and career readiness activities on site, district spokesperson Stephanie Hartley said in an email. That includes a career exploration event with the Green Mine Growers organization, and Thornton is part of that organization.

Bibb County Board of Education member Henry Ficklin, who supported Thornton’s first campaign for state superintendent, said he sees the educational value of such trips for Macon students.

“If (Thornton) runs for superintendent again, I’m certainly going to continue my support with him because I think he’s a great person, and he will be a wonderful superintendent for Georgia,” Ficklin said, noting that Thornton served as the first Black male president of the National Parent Teacher Association.

Thornton attended a recent NAACP meeting in Macon, listening to citizens who voiced concerns about school speeding zones operating outside of school hours and issues regarding special education.

Thornton said his team will be looking for ways to address those concerns.

Thornton also praised BCSD Superintendent Dan Sims for responding to concerns raised two years ago regarding additional resources for special needs students, noting that they were able to come up with a team to provide more help.

“I also understand Bibb County, and other counties, have a problem with student absenteeism, so we’re looking for ways to assist there too,” Thornton said. “I know the superintendent is working hard to help make the attendance better in Bibb.”

Bibb County Schools have vowed to “show more teeth” when it comes to addressing high classroom absences that outrank state averages, including the implementation of a new truancy intervention specialist role and creative initiatives.

Ficklin echoed that absenteeism is a statewide issue and believes Thornton’s experience would be valuable.

“I think that since the onset of COVID, school systems have had a difficult time in getting attendance back where it once was,” Ficklin said. “I think (Thornton) would be someone who could help with that. He has a wonderful background in public service.”

What issues does he plan to address?

In early May, state School Superintendent Richard Woods announced he would seek reelection for the 2026 cycle, promising to “continue delivering real results for our classrooms and children.”

Thornton ran against Woods in 2018, and the two participated in a heated debate held in Macon.

When asked about the statewide issues he hopes to address, Thornton cited updating the state’s “outdated” education funding formula as his top priority.

“We’re not properly funding kids. If a kid is hungry, or if a kid can’t see and has hearing problems, that impacts their ability to learn,” he said. “In Georgia, we have the funds to address these matters, but we’re not doing it. In the current economy and with the budget cuts coming down…as a State School Superintendent, I would have to look ahead and work with the governor and the state on how we’re going to meet the needs of these young people in our schools to make things happen.”

As former head of the National PTA, Thornton also emphasized the importance of parental involvement in schools by establishing advisory councils.

Thornton noted ongoing classroom challenges related to student discipline, which Macon school officials have highlighted student misbehavior as a big problem in the BCSD.

“I’m working with teachers unions, such as the Georgia Federation of Teachers, to address the discipline problem in our classrooms because disruptive students take away from education of everyone. So we’re looking at ways to handle that as well,” he said.

Correction: A previous version stated Thornton has three children.

This story was originally published October 3, 2025 at 11:56 AM.