After 10 Months Without A Director, Metro Schools Expedites Hiring Process

All six finalists for the superintendent job in Nashville got a ringing endorsement from the consultant who went out and found them. Recruiter Jim Huge was brought to tears as he presented the candidates to the Metro school board Tuesday night.

“The people I’m presenting to you are courageous leaders who have taken bold action to improve learning for all students,” he said.

The Nashville school board is committing to an ambitious timeline: They want a new superintendent to be under contract by the end of next week. A marathon session of interviews is scheduled for Thursday.

School board chair Sharon Gentry was the only one to speak after Huge released the names. Her comments were meant to focus a 9-member panel that has — at times — been very divided. She reminded them that one of their primary jobs is hiring a superintendent.

“We have to make a single decision about the individual that will lead this district to recognizing the gains for the benefit of 85,000 students,” she said. “It really is just that simple.”

The candidates are all men. According to the search firm, any women being considered took themselves out of the running, for various reasons.

Kenneth Zeff is the interim superintendent in Fulton County, Ga. Jesus Jara is the second-in-command in Orlando’s schools.

H. Allen Smith is the chief of schools in Oakland, Calif. Joel Boyd is the director of schools in Santa Fe, N.M., and recently was offered the top job in Fort Worth, Tex., but turned it down. 
Shawn Joseph is deputy superintendent in Prince George’s County, Md
.

The only candidate who could be considered local is Brad Leon, who has coordinated the Teach for America program in Tennessee. Currently, he works for Shelby County Schools, overseeing strategy and innovation.

The former director of Metro Nashville Public Schools, Jesse Register, retired last June, but the district has spent even longer — more than a year — looking for his replacement. Last summer, the Metro school board offered the job to Williamson County superintendent Mike Looney, who ultimately turned down the position.