Dallas County superintendent won’t renew contract  

Dallas County will soon join Selma City in the search for a new superintendent. 

Dallas County Superintendent Anthony Sampson has notified the Board of Education that he will let his contract end on June 30, 2025, after completing his three-year obligation and not seek an extension. 

Sampson told the Black Belt News Network this week that he wanted to give the Dallas County Board of Education plenty of time to go through a search process for a new leader to take over when his contract ends. And he wanted to make the transition seamless. 

“I want to make sure they are poised for success,” Sampson said. “This gives the board time to go through the search process, which takes time.” 

Selma City Schools Superintendent Dr. Zickeyous Byrd retired at the beginning of October after two years in the position, and the board installed an interim leader while conducting their own search. 

Sampson said he made the decision to leave after not getting enough support from the board. He has had challenges with the board throughout his tenure, including a month-long suspension in April over communication issues with staff. 

“We achieved what we can in this relationship … it was time to move on,” Sampson said.  

Sampson made the announcement to leave at a high point of his time at Dallas County schools. The Alabama Report Card released last week shows marked improvement for the Dallas County district and for several schools.  

The district made a 10-point gain in performance, which he credits to a strategy toward academic achievement, safety, accountability and partnerships. The program directed teachers to use 13 indicators of instruction that, for those who embraced it, saw a “clear pattern of improvement,” he said. 

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He points to several big jumps, including Brantley Elementary’s improvement from a 56 to a 68 and Bruce K. Craig’s 13-point increase to a 71, a C. 

“Anytime you see a school move from a failing school category to a C, it’s awesome,” Sampson said. 

The only drop came from JE Terry Elementary School that fell from an 84 to a 65. Last year, Sampson expressed concern about a lack of certified teachers at Terry and recommended the board close the school and combine it with neighboring schools, but the board chose not to make the move. The decision would have moved K-5 students to Valley Grande Elementary and the sixth graders to Martin Middle that is currently only seventh and eighth grades. 

As superintendent in Dallas County, Sampson’s goal was to help the community attract businesses and residents by showing that the education system is just as capable of academic achievement as other, larger communities in the state. 

Dallas County schools have had success with dual enrollment courses in the high schools and offering exposure to the latest options for career paths, he said. Sampson credits having a student advisory council to provide input and locking up cellphones during the day that made students more engaged as learners and encouraged teachers to be dialed in more. 

In his last few months, he will lead the board through a new strategic plan and in a process to revise board policies that haven’t been changed in many years. 

“You can’t coast when you’re going uphill,” he added. “I’m going to keep going until my time ends. There is no cruise control when you’re doing the best for kids and the community.”   

Sampson says he has enough years in education and the military to retire and appreciates being able to do that when he showed the Dallas County community positive results during his tenure. 

“We projected real results that make kids feel better about their possibilities and dreams for the future and the same for families,” he said. “Now students can hold their heads high and be confident that they outperformed many schools not only in the Black Belt but other across the state of Alabama.”