At its regular session meeting on Feb. 8, the Bulloch County Board of Education approved a slate of personnel recommendations which included the promotion of Bernard Bodison to lead Mattie Lively Elementary School beginning July 1. “I see this as an opportunity to continue to foster a positive learning environment where students and educators have the ability to thrive,” Bodison said. He shared that he’s learned from Al Dekle, Mattie Lively’s current principal, the importance of effective communication, empathy, and strategic decision-making. “These qualities have undoubtedly shaped my leadership style, and they will continue to guide me as I take on this new role.” Bodison, who is new to Bulloch County Schools, has been serving as one of two assistant principals at Mattie Lively this school year. He has nearly 10 years of experience as an administrator at the elementary, middle and high school levels. “Being here (MLES) this school year has allowed me to learn about the school, its students and staff, and the great community that supports us,” Bodison added. Bodison previously served the Savannah Chatham County School System for 17 years beginning as a mathematics teacher at Bartlett Middle School in 2005. He also served as a science teacher and athletic director at Derenne Middle School for two years before becoming an administrator. From 2015-2020 he was the assistant principal at Islands High School and later Derenne Middle School. He also served as the center leader of the Building Bridges Academy High School in Savannah from December 2020 to December 2022, which was the school system’s alternative learning center. Bodison received his bachelor’s degree in health science, community health from Georgia Southern University. He later earned his master’s degree in middle grades education from Armstrong Atlantic State University, a specialist degree in curriculum and instruction from Brenau University, and an additional specialist add on in educational leadership from Columbus State University. Bodison will assume his first principal role following Aldric Dekle, who became Mattie Lively’s co-principal and later principal in 2021. Dekle is transferring to lead Langston Chapel Elementary School, where he had previously served as an assistant principal from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.
