The Cleveland Board of Education has picked Dr. Russell Dyer of Collierville, Tenn., to be its next director of schools.
Dyer is the current chief of staff for the Collierville school system. He has held administrative positions in Shelby County schools since 2001 and has five years of classroom teaching experience.
In February, the school board fired then-director Dr. Martin Ringstaff for “behavior unbecoming” after revelations he exchanged social media messages of a sexual nature with a woman other than his wife. The board then appointed Assistant Director of Schools Cathy Goodman to serve as interim director.
On Thursday, the board voted 6-0 in favor of Dyer, who was one of 26 candidates who applied for the job. Board Vice Chairman Murl Dirksen was out of the country, education officials said.
Board Chairwoman Dawn Robinson said the director search was “a long and pleasant process” and that she “tossed and turned in bed at night” about making her decision.