Williamson, Jackson named principals

School board gets narrowed list of superintendent applications

The Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education held a special meeting Tuesday for recommended personnel changes and announce two new principals, Randall Jackson at Pollard McCall Junior High School and Todd Williamson at W.S. Neal High School, followed by a workshop to reveal the candidates for the position of school superintendent.

The board approved the recommended personnel changes except one, reigning Escambia County Middle School choir teacher James Weber, held out for executive session to discuss the good name and character. After executive session, Board Member Coleman Wallace made a motion to approve, which was seconded by Board Member Mike Hoomes and the motion carried, to approve Weber.

Dr. Mike Barber with the Alabama Association of School Boards (AASB) and a former superintendent, presented a packet with six candidates' names to board members and gave highlights from each candidate's resume. He said there were originally 21 candidates, from Illinois, Michigan, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Okinawa, Japan among others. The search had gotten narrowed to six.

The candidates, in no certain order, are: Principal Gary Glass, Monroe County Schools; Michele M. McClung, director of teaching, learning and assessment for Mobile County Public Schools; Escambia Co. (Ala.) Assistant Superintendent Dr. Sandra Reid; Wade Shipman, former superintendent of Tallassee City Board of Education (retired); Dr. Barbarietta Turner, director of student services for Monroe County Board of Education; and Dr. Stephen 'Clay' Webber, principal for Marshall County Board of Education.

Barber, along with several experienced former superintendents, poured over the candidates and selected the six he presented, considering what information came from the input survey and meetings.

"We looked at the desires after going through the results of the surveys and meetings and started putting together what we thought would be a good match," said Barber.

Barber said the AASB does a background check, checks the references and its attorneys do the same to be thorough on every candidate.

"Each candidate's is given an assessment on how assertive and responsive they are in leadership," said Barber. "We then take the information you have given on what you want to see out of the next leader and we try to match that up as close as possible. Let me just say, these candidates do that."

Superintendent John Knott announced his retirement recently and the board voted to enlist the help of the AASB in finding a new superintendent.

Barber hosted three public meetings in Atmore, Flomaton and East Brewton to give community members and school employees a chance to input what they were looking for in a superintendent. There was also a survey available online for those who did not want to come to a public meeting. Barber presented that information in graphs at the last school board meeting to give board members a snapshot of what the community felt was a desirable candidate for the position. Answers were diviede into categories: all respondents, parents, employees and residents/alumni. Graphs represented the percentage of that group's answers to the same questions. It is noted that 60 percent of all responders felt the school board should find a very different candidate-one who is ready to take the system in a significantly new direction and 38 percent felt a candidate with the same basic educational and management philosophy as the current administration, but who can make some necessary changes. Two percent felt the board should find a candidate who will stay the course and continue the good work of the current administration.

The reasons given for the previous answers and therefore, percentages, were: to improve academic performance, to end the 'good ole boy' system, to become a more competitive system, to address morale and to provide more accountability.

The board scheduled Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, July 26, 27 and 29, for two board members to take each candidate around to schools across the county in the morning and the afternoon. Interviews will take place those same days at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Flomaton High School auditorium.

A list of about 15 general questions addressing the issues and candidates' educational philosophies will be asked during the interviews of the candidates.

Board Attorney Broox Garrett asked Barber if the candidates have been told they will be interviewed and if they are willing to make the next step to the interview. Barber assured Garrett that the candidates are ready and willing to interview for the position. The board decided to give each candidate the option to bring their family on the school tour, noting that some candidates will be required to move if they accept the position.

New principals

The board approved Todd Williamson, director of career and technical education, as principal at W.S. Neal High School. Williamson will replace Matthew Hodge, who announced his resignation last month. Williamson has been at W.S. Neal as an agriculture teacher, an assistant principal, and as principal at Escambia Career Readiness Center for five years and has been career technical director for the county.

"Todd, we are happy to bring you back to Neal," said superintendent John Knott. "We are extremely proud and happy to have Todd take one of the positions as principal at W.S. Neal High School."

Williamson was there with his family, including his 83-year-old mother. He told the board she had graduated from W.S. Neal 65 years ago and she said she was a member of the first band at the school.

Assistant Principal Randall Jackson will move from Escambia County High School to be principal at Pollard-McCall Junior High School. Jackson will begin July 21 and replace Stewart Powell.

Jackson was an assistant principal at ECHS for the last five years, counselor at FHS and special education teacher.

"We are proud to have you come in and take on the role of principal at Pollard-McCall," said Knott.

The next board meeting will be at 5 p.m., Thursday, July 22, at Brewton Central Office.