Former Bibb school Superintendent Sharon Patterson dies

Former Bibb County school Superintendent Sharon Patterson, who died Tuesday afternoon, was remembered as an educator who put students' interests first.

Patterson, 71, died from an arterial aneurysm about 1:15 p.m., said Stephanie Hartley, the district's communications coordinator. Hart's Mortuary at the Cupola has charge of arrangement.

"It is a sad day for our school system and our community," school Superintendent Curtis Jones said.

Jones got to know Patterson during his years in administration for Griffin-Spalding County schools. During Patterson's tenure, Bibb became a system that smaller districts looked to as an example, he said, particularly when it came to applying for grants such as Race to the Top. Patterson was the state's Superintendent of the Year in 2006.

"When you look at her entire body of work, the phrase that comes to my mind (is) ... 'Things are better in Bibb,'" Jones said.

He said he would direct Bibb County schools to lower their flags to half-staff in Patterson's memory.

Patterson worked in Bibb County school administration for almost 13 years, including a decade as superintendent before stepping down in 2010.

Her time in the position ended after allegations that her administration had failed to report educator-related misconduct to the state's Professional Standards Commission in a timely manner. Patterson countered that the accusations were "meritless" and that she had done nothing wrong.

Gary Bechtel, who was president of the school board when Patterson resigned, described Patterson as a "lovely person."

"We didn't see eye to eye on everything, but I think she did the best she could do," Bechtel said. "She gave everything she had to the system. I'm very sad she's passed away. She was a fine woman."

Patterson's tenure was also one of positive change for the district.

While Patterson was superintendent, education sales tax proceeds were used to build Rutland Middle School (opened in 2003), Rutland High School (2003), Howard Middle School (2004) and Howard High School (2008).

In addition, Central and Southwest high schools got new buildings, and Patterson was still at the helm when the last ESPLOST passed, which funded three new elementary schools, among other projects.

The district was deemed legally integrated, or unitary, in 2007, and the school board gained the authority to set the millage rate for property taxes in 2004.

Patterson was a caring leader with a sharp memory, said Laura Perkins, a former Westside High School principal and current principal for the Academy for Classical Education.

"One of the things I remember best about her is that she remembered everybody," Perkins said. "She was just very good at remembering parts of our lives."

During her time with the district, Patterson championed a program with the Rotary Club that involved a field trip to a museum for Burdell-Hunt Elementary School students and a gathering with Rotary members during the holiday season. That gathering included a backpack filled with various items for the students, said Robbo Hatcher, president of the Macon Rotary Club.

Hatcher said he was "shocked and saddened" at the news of Patterson's death.

"She was very concerned about our Bibb County students and was always working for the sake of the students," Hatcher said. "She thought Rotary was a good example of what you could grow up to be, ... where students could end up."

Patterson also served on the board for the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce while she was serving as superintendent. Former chamber president and CEO Chip Cherry, who has since moved to the same position in Huntsville, Alabama, described her as a "wonderful partner" for the organization.

"She had a passion for education, and I think everything she did she believed was in the best interest of the school system," Cherry said. "Her heart was in education, and that's what she worked very diligently on her entire career.

"She was very good to work with. She had a very strong love for the community and the kids who were under her care."

That concern continued beyond her time as superintendent. Perkins, who said Tuesday's news came as a "shock," said she ran into Patterson a few months ago, and the conversation turned to Perkins' current endeavors at ACE.

"She wanted to know about the school and how we were doing," Perkins said.

Despite how her tenure ended, Patterson maintained an interest in other Bibb County schools as well. As Jones made the transition from Griffin-Spalding to Bibb County, he'd gotten plenty of feedback from Patterson.

"She has shared with me words of wisdom and encouragement, and I am sad to know that she is no longer with us," he said.

Patterson's husband, Ernest Richard Patterson, died in November.

Telegraph writers Andy M. Drury and Linda S. Morris contributed to this report, which also includes information from the Telegraph archives. To contact writer Jeremy Timmerman, call 744-4331 or find him on Twitter@MTJTimm.

This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 6:35 PM with the headline "Former Bibb school Superintendent Sharon Patterson dies ."