Q&A with Sadiyah Abdullah, seeking election to Muscogee County School Board
Editor’s note: This is one of the Ledger-Enquirer Q&As with candidates running for a contested seat on the Muscogee County School District Board. Early voting for the 2026 local nonpartisan election, which coincides with the Georgia primary, begins April 27, and election day is May 19.
The contest for the countywide at-large seat on the nine-member Muscogee County School District Board is between 12-year incumbent Kia Chambers and challengers Sadiyah Abdullah and Kevin Miller.
Here is the Ledger-Enquirer’s emailed interview with Abdullah:
Why are you seeking election to the MCSD Board?
“I’m seeking election to the MCSD Board because I’ve spent more than 20 years inside schools as a teacher, a principal, a district director and an instructional coach, and I know firsthand what’s working and what isn’t. I’ve watched too many children in Muscogee County go year after year without the academic foundation they deserve. I’ve sat in meetings where data was presented and nothing changed. That’s not acceptable, and I’m not willing to just observe it and accept it.
“I believe this board needs a member who doesn’t need a tutorial on how schools work. I understand curriculum, I understand instruction, and I understand what it takes to move a low-performing school forward, because I’ve done it. Lonnie Jackson Elementary was on the governor’s list of Chronically Failing Schools when I arrived. In one year, we earned the score needed and were removed from that list, and even in my absence, Lonnie Jackson continues to progress. That’s the kind of real, measurable change I’m committed to bringing to every conversation at the board table.”
Why should Columbus residents vote for you?
“Vote for me because I’m not coming to this seat to learn; I’m coming to lead. Voters should choose me because I bring authenticity and lived professional expertise, which is exactly what our community requires to become a top-performing district. I’ve led schools in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. I’ve managed a multimillion-dollar federal School Improvement Grant. I’ve coached teachers, developed early childhood programs and served on community councils right here in Columbus.
“I will also bring accountability. I believe board members should be asking hard questions, interpreting data and holding leadership responsible for results, not just approving whatever comes across the table. Parents and taxpayers who continually support the ESPLOST tax deserve a board member who shows up prepared to ask the right questions and keeps student growth at the center of every decision. That’s why every vote matters to the growth of our communities.”
What is the most significant issue you want to advocate for, and what will be your solution if elected?
“Academic achievement, specifically literacy and math proficiency, should be the defining issue of this race. Our GMAS and School Report Card data tells a story that is impossible to ignore: Too many MCSD students are not reading on grade level by third grade, and too many are graduating from our schools without the foundational skills they need to succeed. My solution is a proven framework I’ve implemented across multiple environments:
“First, we must ensure rigorous, evidence-based reading instruction grounded in what research says about how students learn to read is being used consistently across every school. That means high-quality instructional materials, not marketed programs, and professional development that supports and honors our educators.
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“Second, we need functioning intervention systems so struggling students are identified early and receive targeted intervention, not computer programs that are ineffective.
“Third, the board must require transparent, school-by-school performance dashboards so that community members, parents and board members can track progress and hold leadership accountable in real time.
“Building excellence demands accountability. And accountability requires data, visibility and the willingness to act on what the data tells us.”
What is your occupational and educational background?
“I hold an education specialist degree in educational leadership, a master of arts in school administration, a master of arts in teaching and a bachelor of arts in speech communications: rhetoric & public address. I hold Tier II Georgia Educational Leadership certification and am a licensed administrator in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. I am currently in the dissertation phase of a Ph.D. in reading at Auburn University.
“Professionally, I’ve served as a classroom teacher, school principal, district-level director and instructional coach across three states. Most recently, I served as an instructional coach in the Muscogee County School District from 2019 to 2022, where I worked directly with teachers to strengthen classroom instruction and improve student outcomes. Prior to that, I served as the director of Early Success Centers for MCSD, overseeing the district’s pre-K programs.
“As principal of Lonnie Jackson Elementary and academic coach at Georgetown here in Columbus, both of which were removed from watch lists. I also served as a principal in Guilford County Schools in North Carolina, where I led two schools to Adequate Yearly Progress over consecutive years, and as a School Improvement Grant director for the South Carolina Department of Education, managing a multimillion-dollar federal budget and bringing the grant into full federal compliance.
“I was also selected as a Principal Fellow by the North Carolina General Assembly and received a full academic scholarship to Northern Illinois University Law School but chose to pursue a career in education over law.”
What is your community involvement and history of leadership roles?
“Community service has always been central to who I am, not just a credential on paper. Here in Columbus, I have served on the Columbus Chamber of Commerce Talented, Educated People Strategy K–12 Subcommittee, the Columbus Public Library Vision Planning Team, the Muscogee County Young Child Wellness Council Leadership Team, the Project Aware Council and the Health and Education Wellness Council. I have also served as a REACH Scholar mentor and as a Reading Recovery tutor, working directly with students who needed extra support.
“These aren’t honorary appointments. They reflect a consistent belief that the work of improving education doesn’t stop at the schoolhouse door. Strong schools grow from strong communities, and I’ve spent years investing in both.”
What else should the Ledger-Enquirer’s readers know about you and your campaign?
“I want readers to know that this campaign is about Columbus’ children, all of them. Not just the ones in high-performing schools but every child in every ZIP code in this district. I’ve spent my career turning around the schools that others had given up on, and I believe every child in Muscogee County is capable of achieving at high levels when they are supported by well-qualified teachers and strong leadership, and a board that holds the system accountable.
“I also want people to know that I listen. I’ve been invested in this community. I’ve attended the meetings, sat on the councils, mentored the students and tutored the struggling readers. I am raising my two youngest children in this community, and my oldest daughter graduated from Columbus State University. I’m not a newcomer asking for your trust; I’m a neighbor who has been doing the work and who is now ready to take a seat at the table where decisions are made.
“Voters can learn more about my platform and connect with the campaign at SadiyahAbdullahMCSB.com: Early voting begins April 27th through May 15th. Election Day is May 19th, and I’m asking for your vote and your voice.”
This story was originally published April 8, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
