PHOTO BY PAUL LEACH Cleveland school board Chairwoman Dawn Robinson and Vice Chairman Murl Dirksen discuss school director search candidates.The Cleveland Board of Education has nominated two finalists in its search for a new director of schools.
Dr. Martin Ringstaff, the former director, was fired in February for "behavior unbecoming" after revelations he exchanged social media messages of a sexual nature with a woman other than his wife. The school board appointed Assistant Director of Schools Cathy Goodman as interim director.
On Thursday, the board voted for Dr. Elizabeth Alves of Knoxville and Dr. Russell Dyer of Collierville, Tenn., as the top contenders.
"We had many excellent candidates," board Chairwoman Dawn Robinson said of the 26 applicants who responded to the search, which was conducted on behalf of the school system by the Tennessee School Boards Association.
Alves is the chief academic officer for Knox County Schools and has served in central office roles since 2006. Before that, she held school-level leadership positions in Miami for 10 years and taught for eight years.
Dyer is the chief of staff for the Collierville school system. He has five years of classroom teaching experience and has held administrative positions in the Shelby County school system since 2001.
In phone interviews, both said they were impressed with the Cleveland school system.
"Their digital initiatives and progressive thinking are very appealing," Dyer said. "I couldn't let the opportunity pass by."
Alves cited the school system's passion and the support it receives from the general community as key factors in seeking the director's post.
The two finalists were among a group of five candidates - which included Dr. Sharon Harper, the Southeast CORE executive director; Dr. John Ash, principal of Central Magnet School in Murfreesboro, Tenn.; and Dr. Daniel Brigman, former superintendent of Catawba County Schools in North Carolina - recommended by TSBA based on criteria established by the school board.
Each of the seven board members nominated two candidates. Dyer received seven nominations and Alves received five. Harper received two votes.
The board conducted daylong engagements, which included public interviews and meetings with community and business leaders, with four of the five candidates over the last week. The board cancelled Brigman's interview once he began contract negotiations with another school system, according to a Cleveland City Schools announcement.
Board member Charlie Cogdill, who previously said he would ask the board to consider an applicant not recommended by TSBA, nominated only interviewed applicants. The board announced that any applicant could be selected as the next director, not just ones recommended by TSBA.
"People in [the central administrative office] are talking to me and teachers in the school system tell me we need to add a name," Cogdill said in the meeting.
Although Cogdill would not name the candidate, two Cleveland City Schools administrators applied for the job: Dr. Joel Barnes, principal of Blythe-Bower Elementary School, and Jeffrey B. Elliott, supervisor of curriculum and instruction.
"After going through the interview process and all the input from community, supervisors, principals and teachers, I'm very happy with our two finalists," Cogdill said after Thursday's meeting.
Robinson voiced frustration about media coverage associated with a request for a Tennessee attorney general's opinion by state Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville. Bell said some constituents raised concerns that the school system might violate open record and meeting laws by using TSBA to conduct a search.
The state Sunshine Law "contemplates a body with members who vote, recommend and make decisions," according to the opinion issued by Attorney General Herbert Slatery. "It does not necessarily include any third party involved in a search for a director of schools."
"TSBA is not choosing anything for us," Robinson said. "They are just doing a lot of legwork for us. We still have a lot of legwork to do."
Contact staff writer Paul Leach at pleach@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6481.