Robert D. Sims is a 1977 graduate of Callaway High School in Jackson, Mississippi. After graduation, he attended Hinds Junior College where he received his Associate of Arts Degree in Music Education. In 1979 he transferred to Delta State University where he received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree in Vocal Music (1981), and his Master of Music Education Degree (1983), also in Vocal Music.

While studying for his comprehensive exams to earn his masters degree, Mr. Sims began his teaching career with the Leflore County School District in Greenwood, Mississippi. While in Leflore County he taught at three elementary schools. This is where he got his foundation for his teaching career.

In the fall of 1983, Mr. Sims came to the Hinds County School District and the Terry Community. From 1983-1989 Mr. Sims taught at Perryman Elementary School and the old Terry High School (Go Yellow Jackets!!). Once the old Terry High School closed in the spring of 1989, Mr. Sims taught for one year at Perryman Elementary School and Gary Road Elementary School (1989- 1990). Between 1990 and 1996, Mr. Sims taught at Byram Attendance Center  (the high school for Byram and Terry), teaching grades 5-12. In the fall of 1996, Mr. Sims transferred to the new Terry High School (Go Bulldogs!!), where he taught until he retired in the spring of 2013.

During his time in the Terry Community, Mr. Sims worked tirelessly to build a successful choral program. When he began at the old Terry High School he had 1 student in his high school choir and 4 students in his junior high choir. While at Byram Attendance Center, he had built the high school choir to 50 students and the junior high choir to 120. By the end of his career at the new Terry High School he had 170 in grades 9-12.

During his teaching career Mr. Sims was honored with many awards. He is very proud to have received all of them.  In 2004, Mr. Sims was named Terry High School Teacher of the Year, and the Hinds County School District Teacher of the Year. In that same year, the Mississippi Music Educators Association named Mr. Sims the "Mississippi Music Educator of the Year." In 2006, Mr. Sims was awarded the "Ernestine Ferrell Music Educator of the Year Award" for twenty or more years of exceptional music educating in the state of Mississippi. In 2009, Mr. Sims was named the Delta State University Department of Music Alumnus of the Year.

Mr. Sims would like to thank all of his students throughout his career for helping make the program such a success. He could not have done it without their hard work and dedication.