Hickman named superintendent of Monroe County school system

The Monroe County school board has named Mike Hickman Jr. as its school superintendent, moving him from interim status.

Hickman had been interim superintendent since the board bought out the contract of Superintendent Anthony Pack in May.

A lifelong resident of Monroe County, Hickman graduated from Mary Persons High School in 1984.

"I think that makes it a little more special because it's personal to me, the success that we have and the things that we do," Hickman said Thursday afternoon. "I think about it more than just a job. It means something in my heart when we talk about Monroe schools and Mary Persons."

The board extended Hickman's contract through June 2018 and authorized board Chairman J. Ray Grant to iron out any necessary contract details, according to a statement from the system.

"We're excited to have Dr. Hickman in this leadership position and are confident that he and his administrative team will continue the traditions and progress that will lead the school system to greater and greater successes," Grant said in the statement. "The board values the day-to-day work that goes on in the school system and appreciates the efforts to provide our students with more and better opportunities to learn, grow and succeed."

Hickman joined the central office in 2012 after having served six years as principal of Monroe County Middle School.

Before that, he taught at Mary Persons, was an assistant principal there and also was an assistant principal in Pike County.

"There are a lot of good things happening in Monroe County schools now," Hickman said, noting last year's graduation rate of 83 percent was the highest it's ever been.

The new fine arts building, which Hickman said is scheduled to be built by the end of next year, and the introduction of a new Army ROTC program for high school students are two additions he said will help the school system prepare more students for success after graduation.

"The challenge, really, for public schools and Monroe County has been able to provide opportunities for our children as they migrate through our school system ... and ultimately where are they going after they leave us here," Hickman said. "In years past, we kind of focused all of our attention ... on getting kids prepared for college. College is not a fit for all children."

In the rapidly changing landscape of public education in Georgia, Hickman said the school system's goal will be to provide students with the "skills and knowledge necessary to do whatever they want to do."

"We don't cookie-cutter children and young adults into one way," Hickman said. "We just want to be able to do what it is that they want to do in life, and I think we're doing the things that will help our children be able to do that."

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.

This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 3:12 PM with the headline "Hickman named superintendent of Monroe County school system ."