His Sweet Spot When Aiming at Everything

Profile: Fred “Bubba” Longgrear

Superintendent Fred “Bubba” Longgrear wants to give every single one of the 2,200 students in the Candler County School District in Metter, Ga., what he calls an “unfair advantage.”

Whatever it takes to help his students succeed, he’s determined to make it happen — a sentiment that seems fitting for an athlete who became an educator.

“The overarching theme is ‘we want to win at everything,’” says Longgrear, who became the district’s superintendent in 2015 after spending seven years as its assistant superintendent.

It would be easy to assume that Longgrear, who played football at Georgia Southern University and later coached high school football, is referring to athletics when he refers to winning ways. But when he says “everything,” he really means it: services provided for English language leaders, gifted education, career readiness, the arts and beyond. He’s proud of the district’s thriving ROTC program and he’s thrilled to boast that Metter High School has a 100-member marching band in a school enrolling only 530 students.

“He’s going to find the sweet spot for each kid,” says Tom Bigwood, the district’s former superintendent and the individual who hired Longgrear out of nearby Tattnall County High School to become Candler County’s assistant superintendent.

For many students, that sweet spot might be the district’s career training program that makes them employable right out of high school. During his tenure, the district has improved its high school graduation rate significantly. But Longgrear wanted to make sure students had options beyond graduation, a vital need in a Title I district in a rural community in southeastern Georgia.

About six years ago, Longgrear spearheaded the launch of the Metter College & Career Academy to provide specialized training and prepare students to enter the local and regional workforce. Students can work toward their high school diploma while participating in internships, learning job skills and earning certifications for various industries.

To support the program’s future success, Longgrear is developing partnerships with companies such as Hyundai, which operates a plant nearby. Also, his district is building a new state-of-the-art facility with construction, welding and healthcare labs.

He’s also put together a team to help his graduates with job placement.

Longgrear also champions the K-12 soft skills curriculum in his schools, teaching students professional conduct, respect, teamwork and other lifelong habits. One of his favorite examples involves Metter Middle School’s Amazing Shake contest, during which students learn how to conduct themselves during an interview, remain calm under pressure and give an impressive handshake. While there’s an official winner, the way the superintendent sees it, everyone who participates wins.

“We’re creating a series of small successes that lead to hope, which leads to ultimate success,” he says.

One key to Longgrear’s effectiveness in his role is setting high expectations for everyone, including himself, says board chair Craig Lanier. He says Longgrear ensures everyone understands his expectations up front but then provides the tools, notably professional training and collaborative group support, to meet those expectations.

He also prioritizes best practices that benefit his students in his decision making, which he emphasizes when he’s talking to others. “A lot of positive things can happen for children if you do that,” Bigwood says.

Meanwhile, Longgrear credits the people with whom he has worked, including past mentors and current leaders in the district’s schools. “I’m convinced that relationships are the key to success. I really am,” he says.

Jennifer Larson is a freelance writer in Nashville, Tenn.