Sheriff Terron K. Hayes to speak during local TEAAMS Session at Albany Technical College

Albany, Georgia — Albany Technical College (ATC) announces the upcoming TEAAMS Monthly Empowerment Session & Graduate Recognition Ceremony on April 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Logistics Education Center.

Sheriff Terron K. Hayes will speak at the event. This session is part of the college’s Teaching, Empowering African American Males to Succeed (TEAAMS) initiative. It is designed to provide African American males with fundamental skills to help them succeed and persist through internal and external challenges.

The TEAAMS project hosts a Monthly Empowerment Session for ATC Faculty and Community each month.

Leaders are invited to speak to the students. “The TEAAMS Members have faced many barriers in pursuing a higher education, and during this ceremony, we will recognize their academic achievements.” Sheriff Terron K. Hayes, the first African American Sheriff in Dougherty County, will join us as we celebrate our Spring Semester Graduates,” remarked Quanta Bell, the TEAAMS Project Director.

The featured speaker for this session will be Sheriff Terron K. Hayes. As part of the college’s Teaching, Empowering, African American Males to Succeed (TEAAMS) initiative, the program aims to equip African American males with essential skills to help them persist and succeed despite internal and external challenges.

About the Speaker
Sheriff Terron K. Hayes

Sheriff Terron K. Hayes is a native of Moultrie, Georgia, where he attended Colquitt County High School before earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Psychology from Albany State University.

While pursuing his college degree, he served with the Albany Police Department (APD) as a Police Corporal. He also held leadership roles as the President of the School Resource Officer Program and Regional Director for the Georgia Association of School Resource Officers. Additionally, he was a member of the Georgia Gang Investigator Association, working within APD’s Uniform and Investigative Divisions.

Sheriff Hayes later joined the Dougherty County School System Police Department, where he served as a Police Lieutenant and Supervisor/Coordinator for several youth-focused programs, including the Gang Resistance Education and Training Program (G.R.E.A.T.), Police Against Crime (P.A.C.), and Students Against Violence (S.A.V.).

When he transitioned to the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office, he initially became Assistant Director of the Youth Division as a Sergeant. After years of dedicated service in the Youth Division, he was promoted to Director of the Youth Division. His leadership and commitment led to further promotions, first to the rank of Lieutenant and then later promoted to Captain before achieving the rank of Chief Deputy. Now serving as the 19th Sheriff of Dougherty County, Sheriff Hayes continues his dedication to public safety, youth outreach, and community engagement. Throughout his career, he has remained deeply involved in community service.

He is a member of The 100 Black Men of Greater Southwest Georgia and an active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., where he has held various leadership roles, including Chief of Security to the 7th District Representative and Co-Director of the National Security Team. He is also a Deacon and Chief of Security for Mount Zion Baptist Church. His contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the 2014 Martin Luther King Dream Award and the 2019 Law Enforcement Executive of the Year Award.

He is a dedicated public servant, motivational speaker, and advocate for youth development, gang prevention, and community-oriented policing.

He is married to Connie, and they are the proud parents of two daughters, Kirsten and Karli. His hobbies are traveling, golfing, reading, and spending quality time with his family.