Rutland High Principal Kent Sparks dies at 54

MACON, Georgia (WMGT/41NBC) – The Bibb County School District reports that Rutland High School Principal Kent Sparks passed away Monday morning due to health complications.

He was 54 years old.

Sparks had been with the Bibb County School District since 2009, when he was named Rutland High Assistant Principal. He served as Principal of Riley Elementary School from July 2012 to June 2014. before returning to Rutland High to serve as its Principal in July 2014.

Prior to working in Bibb, he served as an educator in other districts, including Henry County, Fulton County and Monroe County.

“Mr. Sparks was a respected leader in our district. One of his greatest strengths was rallying his school family through difficult times, such as the 2013 house fire in which three Riley Elementary students died and then last year when Rutland High senior Heather Harrod died in a car accident. He demonstrated great leadership and compassion in these moments, and now we must remember his strength as we grieve and move forward. He will be greatly missed,” said Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones.

Services will be held Friday, December 21, at 2 PM at the LDS Chapel on Williamson Road in Macon.

The district will be providing additional counseling support for students and staff at Rutland High School over the next few days.