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.