DALTON, Ga. -- Danny Hayes will sit at the Whitfield County Board of Education's head table as superintendent when the panel meets in June.
"I'm extremely excited, and we're going to maintain the direction we've been going for the last five years," Mr. Hayes said after being named Monday to replace outgoing Superintendent Katie Brochu.
"We're no longer a 'diamond in the rough,' we're a gem that's ready to be set," he said, referring to Dr. Brochu's remark in 2005 about the system's potential.
Mr. Hayes, now assistant superintendent of human resources, was the board's unanimous pick from an in-house list of four candidates. Board members have said they wanted to make sure their selection continued the system's approach to professional development and teaching.
Mr. Hayes, 54, said he plans to stay the course.
"We'll continue to invest in our faculty and staff in professional development, and we hope to build strong relationships with the community," he said.
But the first and continuing challenge he faces is a budget crisis, he said. Officials predict Whitfield will have about $13.5 million less funding than last year.
"Georgia's in a revenue crisis, and we've got to figure out the best way to deal with that without affecting the learning of our students," he said.
Dr. Brochu announced in March that she had accepted a job as superintendent for Richland County School District Two outside Columbia, S.C., replacing that system's retiring 16-year veteran superintendent. Board members launched a search immediately, deciding early on that Dr. Brochu's replacement would come from her own staff.
Board of Education Chairman Tim Trew said the selection "wasn't as easy this time," referring to the winnowing of candidates that led to hiring Dr. Brochu.
Mr. Hayes was chosen over fellow assistant superintendents Dusty Brown, Judy Gilreath and Richard Schoen.
Mr. Trew compared the group to an "NBA all-star team."
"Anybody could dunk it at any time," he said.
Board member John Thomas said any of the four applicants for the post could head a school system, and he was glad they worked for Whitfield County.
"I know we're in good hands," he said.
PERSONAL GLANCE
Danny Hayes began his career in education in 1979 as a physical education teacher in Leesburg, Ga. Since then, he has spent 28 years as a teacher, high school assistant principal and principal, curriculum director and human resources director in various systems in Georgia. He also has coached middle and high school basketball, baseball, football and wrestling.
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