Wayne Johnson interviews to be the next superintendent of Hamilton County Schools

The Hamilton County Board of Education meets for a special session on Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The board approved a balanced budget to be sent to the county commission, and they approved a charter request for Chattanooga Preparatory School.
The Hamilton County Board of Education meets for a special session on Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The board approved a balanced budget to be sent to the county commission, and they approved a charter request for Chattanooga Preparatory School.

Arthur Wayne Johnson is the first superintendent finalist to interview in-person with the Hamilton County Board of Education today.

Johnson is a businessman based in Georgia with a long resume detailing the companies he's founded and the work he's done in the banking and credit industry. Johnson doesn't have experience working in public education, but earned his doctorate in education leadership last year from Mercer University.

Johnson is the first of the five superintendent finalists to spend the day in Hamilton County, and the remaining four candidates -- including Hamilton County Schools Interim Superintendent Kirk Kelly -- will each interview a different day this week.

The candidates are spending the day meeting with central office staff and touring the district, and have meetings set-up with elected officials, education stakeholders and the community throughout the afternoon.

The day concludes with an interview with the full board.

Johnson had a video conference interview with the board May 15, and said because of his successful career he isn't looking for a contract, but a place where he can use his business experience to improve the lives of others. During this interview he acknowledged his lack of experience working in education, but said he's good at finding talent and will surround himself with people that have strengths complementing his own.

See tomorrow's Times Free Press for the full story.

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