By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle's board of education is scheduled to interview the last of six candidates for superintendent today at 6:30 p.m. at Hartselle Junior High School.
The candidate is Joanne Horton of Foley. She is assistant principal of Foley Elementary and Gulf Shores Elementary schools in the Baldwin County School System. Previously, she filled positions as a teacher, guidance counselor and superintendent. She is currently enrolled in a doctoral program and holds degrees from the University of Mississippi and the University of North Alabama.
William D. Burns of Geneva was interviewed on Tuesday. He is superintendent of Geneva County Schools, a position he has held since 1997. He also has experience as a coach, teacher, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent. He holds degrees from Troy State University.
Interviewed earlier, in numerical order, were William Booth, Joe Walters, Jeremy Jones and William M. Reed.
Booth is head baseball coach and a math teacher at Hartselle High School. He also serves as director of transportation for the Hartselle School System. Walters is principal at Crestline Elementary School. Jones is chief learning officer, elementary education division, for the Morgan County School District. Reed is superintendent of Butler County Schools.
At the conclusion of their interview with Jones, board members were asked to respond to the question "what do you expect from the new superintendent?
Their responses, which ranged from two to six sentences, included the following qualities: commitment, enthusiasm, innovative, visionary, proven leader, effective manager, student-focused, good communicator, fair and open-minded.
"I couldn't be happier with the way the interview process has been handled up to this point," said Ronnie Abercrombie, board chairman. "We have had a good setting in which to conduct the interviews thanks to Frank Parker and his staff, and all of the candidates have presented themselves in a very professional manner. Also, the response and cooperation of the public has been impressive."
Abercrombie said he expects the filling of the superintendent's position to come up for discussion at the board's next meeting on Jan. 27.
"We could have a motion and vote on the matter at that time, or delay making a decision until a later date. In any event, I hope we have a new superintendent on board before Dr. (Lee) Hartsell leaves March 1," he added.