Bradley school director search narrows to two

CLEVELAND, Tenn.—Two “candidates of interest” were selected by the Cleveland Board of Education on Monday for further consideration to become the next Cleveland city schools director.

The candidates are Damon Cathey and Martin Ringstaff.

Cathey is assistant superintendent for Kingsport City Schools and holds degrees from the University of Memphis, Tennessee State and Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. He previously served as a principal in Nashville public schools.

Ringstaff is director of personnel and support services for the school system in Bristol, Va. He holds degrees from Virginia Intermont College; George Washington University in Washington, D.C.; and Liberty University at Lynchburg, Va. He previously has served as a teacher and principal in Virginia schools.

The city school board also appointed former board member Bill Brown, a local attorney, and veteran educator George Nerren, with Lee University’s Helen DeVos College of Education, as contract negotiators for the candidates.

Board members will visit the Kingsport and Bristol school districts on March 8. Afterward, the board will set parameters for contract negotiations.

“Those community visits will be very valuable,” said board member Dawn Robinson.

The board selected the two from a field of five who were screened by the Tennessee School Boards Association. One of the five dropped out.

“All four of our interviewees were good, very professional candidates,” said board Chairman Peggy Pesterfield, “but we have selected two excellent candidates.”

Rick Denning, who has been city schools director for 16 years, is retiring in May.