13 educators seek Bradley schools superintendent post

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Thirteen people applied by Friday’s deadline to become the next Bradley County director of schools.

Eight are local, three are from outside the county and two are from outside Tennessee.

A selection committee of the Bradley County school board will interview the candidates and choose three to five for public interviews with the full board.

Superintendent Bob Taylor said in January he will retire at the end of June and board Chairman David Kelley appointed the search committee.

But some county commissioners are criticizing the school board’s selection process.

Commissioner Brian Smith asked the county school board Monday to reconsider the process. Two commissioners said they would prefer that Tennessee return to elected school superintendents.

“I have a serious problem when we go all over the country to hire a principal for Bradley High School and hire one out of Florida, and yet (when we look) for a superintendent — who probably has one of the most lucrative contracts in the state, at least in the top 25 — we limit it to just a few,” Commissioner Louie Alford said.

Last month Mr. Kelley said the Tennessee School Boards Association would help only with a nationwide superintendent search. But Mr. Kelley said there are many qualified school leaders in the region.

In January, members Tom Cassada and Mark Grissom asked that the entire school board act as a screening committee. Mr. Cassada said it was one of the most important decisions the board will make.

But Troy Weathers, the only current member who was serving when Mr. Taylor was hired, noted the initial interviews could take a lot of time.

Commissioner Jim Smith cautioned colleagues against trying to micromanage the school board, noting they are elected officials too. But he agreed with Mr. Alford and Brian Smith about the process.

“I hope they do find a local director,” he said. “I hope when they get the people who are going to apply for this position, they take the most qualified person and not somebody because they know somebody.”

SUPERINTENDENT APPLICANTS

* John Bartlett, Loudon County High principal

* Kenneth Cline, retired director of Archbold Area Schools, Ohio and an education consultant

* Danny Coggin, Walker Valley High principal

* Dan Glasscock, county supervisor of secondary education

* Sharon Harper, North Lee Elementary principal

* Amie Lambert, principal of Maury Middle School, Dandridge, Tenn.

* Johnny McDaniel, Bradley Central High principal

* Terri Murray, federal projects manager for county schools

* Michael Plumley, Waterville Community Elementary librarian and Bradley County Commission chairman

* Zoe Renfro, county supervisor of adult education

* Bill Robertson, Horizon School principal and Cleveland city councilman

* George Smalley, assistant superintendent of operations, Whitfield County, Ga. schools

* Larry Stein, assistant director and supervisor of instruction, Sweetwater city schools