Joe Wingate works in his office at Chattanooga State Community College, where he impacts students’ lives as a coach and professor. Starting September, Wingate will impact students’ lives on a larger scale as a newly elected member of the Hamilton County Board of Education.Joe Wingate
Sabrena Smedley
Hamilton County Department of Education Interim Superintendent, Kirk Kelly, speaks to reporters. Members of the Hamilton County Department of Education visited the Chattanooga Times Free Press to discuss goals for the 2016 school year.Several people at East Hamilton School Monday night said they’re glad the Hamilton County Department of Education decided to conduct a superintendent search, urging the board to consider hiring a non-educator for the post.
The meeting was hosted by newly elected school board member Joe Wingate and Hamilton County Commissioner Sabrena Smedley, who said they wanted to include the community in the process of selecting a superintendent.
“As a school board member, I know folks want to have a voice, and want to be heard,” Wingate said. “That is what tonight is all about.”
Before opening up a conversation with the couple dozen people in attendance, Wingate explained why he thinks the board selected the right search firm to help find the next superintendent.
Coleman Lew and Associates Inc. is the most expensive of the three firms interviewed, Wingate said, but has the most experience finding a diverse pool of candidates – both educators and non-educators.