Photo by Roy L. Williams
Superintendent meeting
The five finalists for Hoover City Schools superintendent, announced tonight during an April 14 board meeting at Spain Park High School, include a man who is superintendent for the entire Georgia public school system and a small town superintendent with strong ties to metro Birmingham, including stints as principal in Mountain Brook.
Dr. Kendy Behrends, a consultant for the Alabama Association of School Boards who conducted a nationwide search, for the first time unveiled the names of all of the five finalists. In all, 39 applicants from 15 states including Alabama expressed interest in the Hoover superintendent job, and 31 completed the application process, she said.
The five finalists, including two from Alabama, are as follows: Dr. John D. Barge, the former Georgia State Superintendent of Schools; Dr. Charles L. Ledbetter, superintendent of Dublin City Schools in Georgia; Dr. Chris Marczak, assistant superintendent of Oak Ridge City Schools in Tennessee; Dr. Kathy Murphy, superintendent of the Monroe County Board of Education in Greenville, Ala., and Dr. Paul "Vick" Wilson, superintendent of Hartselle City Schools in Hartselle, Ala.
The Hoover Board of Education, after hearing Behrends presentation, decided to begin interviewing the five finalists on Monday, April 20 with a goal of finishing the interviews by Monday, April 27. The school board has set a goal of selecting a superintendent by the time the 2014-15 school year ends in late May.
"Obviously this is the first time we've seen the five finalists. I am very excited. They represent a couple different states. I will call the finalists first thing in the morning to congratulate them for making the top five and go ahead and get everyone scheduled for the interviews," Frazier said. "Our main concern right now is trying to nail down a place for the interviews and then we will have a reception."
The school board at one point was going to allow each finalist to visit the schools, but many principals in the audience said it wasn't a good idea since student testing is taking place next week.
Behrends said there was tremendous interest in the Hoover city school superintendent job, which was advertised in trade journals across the country. Among the 31 who completed applications, 10 are current superintendents, four are assistant superintendents, and one is a state superintendent.
Wilson, the current superintendent of Hartselle city schools, has the strongest ties to the Hoover area. He was a principal at Mountain Brook City Schools from 2008 until taking the Hartselle City Schools superintendent job in 2013. He also served as principal at Homewood High from 2006 to 2008.
Here is background on the five finalists for superintendent of Hoover City Schools:
Dr. John D. Barge
Current position: Georgia State Superintendent of Schools
Education:
- Doctorate of Education, University of Georgia Educational Leadership
- Education Specialist, State University of West Georgia Educational Leadership
- Master's, West Georgia Educational Leadership
- Bachelors, Berry College Communications/Journalism
- Associate's, Holmes Community College, Biological Science
Years in education: 1991-present
Dr. Charles L. Ledbetter
Current position: Superintendent, Dublin City School, Georgia
Education:
- Doctorate of Education, Auburn University, Education Leadership
- Certificate of Completion, University of Alabama, U.A. Superintendents Academy
- Master's of Education, Auburn University Montgomery, Social Studies
- Bachelor's, Auburn University, History
Years in education: 1989-present
Dr. Chris J. Marczak
Current Position: Assistant Superintendent, Oak Ridge City Schools, Tennessee
Education:
- Doctorate, Trevecca Nazarene University, Educational Leadership
- Master's, Trevecca Nazarene University, Leadership and Professional Practice
- Bachelor's, Austin Peay State University, Interdisciplinary Studies
Years in education: 1997-present
Dr. Kathy L. Murphy
Current position: Superintendent, Monroe County Board of Education, Alabama
Education:
- Doctorate, Auburn University, Physical Education, Program Administration
- Education Specialist, Auburn University Montgomery, Education Leadership
- Master's, Auburn University Montgomery, Educational Leadership
- Bachelor's, Troy University, Healthy, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
Years in education: 1984-present
Dr. Paul V. Wilson
Current Position: Superintendent, Hartselle City Schools, Alabama
Education:
- Education Doctorate, Samford University, Educational Leadership
- Education Specialist, University of Montevallo, Educational Leadership
- Master's, Samford University, Educational Administration
- Bachelor's, University of Alabama, English and History Education
