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Reaction Good for 3 Finalists to Lead Schools Glynn District Plans Meetings With the Community Next Week.

Posted on: Wednesday, 20 July 2005, 15:01 CDT

BRUNSWICK -- Parents and community leaders said Friday they were impressed by the high caliber of finalists under consideration to become Glynn County School District superintendent.

The finalists are Michael Bull, William "Al" Hunter and Jimmy Willis. They were selected Thursday by a unanimous consensus of county Board of Education members.

All three are experienced Georgia educators. They will be introduced to the community and school system employees during forums on Thursday and Friday, hosted by the school board.

Their selection was met with approval and optimism from parents and community leaders.

"I'm really encouraged to see the high quality of the candidates we have attracted," said Michael Nyenhuis, whose two children attend Glynn Academy.

Nyenhuis is chairman of the Glynn County Education Political Action Group. The non-partisan citizens organization was formed last year to improve education in the county by promoting qualified candidates for the school board and conducting voter awareness programs.

It has been among the community groups imploring school board members to work together to correct past problems that led to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools placing the district's academic accreditation on probation.

"The fact that we have three such strong candidates speaks well of the process utilized by the board," Nyenhuis said.

The school board bought out the contract of Superintendent Robert Winter in February for $250,000.

Bull, Hunter and Willis each appear to have leadership skills and abilities that would benefit the school system and Glynn County as a whole, said Woody Woodside, president of the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce.

Because a well-educated and skilled workforce is vital to the county's growth and economy, Woodside said business leaders are depending on the school board and superintendent.

"It's important that whoever they select, will be a strong administrator who will move forward to implement the policy of the school board," Woodside said.

It is essential that the new superintendent forge a partnership with the community, school system employees and school board members, Nyenhuis and Woodside said.

"The superintendent must have the ability to work with the board. He also must know the needs and meet the needs of the other administrators and employees in the system," Woodside said.

Equally important is diplomacy, Nyenhuis said.

"The superintendent needs very strong skills in public relations, diplomacy, community relations and school board relations. We need somebody very strong in the ability to build a team [comprised] of the board, school system staff and the community," Nyenhuis said.

Board members previously have said they want a superintendent who can focus on student achievement, is experienced in school finances, has successfully handled school construction projects and can engage the community in the education process.

Board Chairwoman LaVerne Cooper said Bull, Hunter and Willis each possess the skills and attributes that the panel is seeking.

Here is more on each candidate:

-- Bull is assistant superintendent for instruction at the Gainesville city school system.

He was among four finalists under consideration to become superintendent of the Savannah-Chatham County School District, which has about 34,000 students. On Friday, Savannah-Chatham settled on a Norfolk, Va., academic administrator, Thomas Lockamy Jr. as its new superintendent, according to district officials.

The Gainesville school system has slightly more than 5,000 students. It is has seven schools.

-- Hunter is superintendent of the Brantley County School District. Adjacent to Glynn County, the district has about 3,300 students, and six schools.

Under Hunter's leadership, the district has implemented curriculum that has led to steady increases in student achievement. In addition, the district has carried out successful school building and renovation projects despite limited state and local funding.

Hunter also is on the board of directors of the Consortium for Adequate School Funding. The non-profit organization is seeking improvements in state education funding for all school districts.

-- Willis is a professional development specialist for the Georgia School Boards Association. He served as superintendent of the Oglethorpe County School District from 1996 to 2002, when he retired and then joined the school boards association.

The Oglethorpe district has about 2,300 students, and has four schools.

Willis is known in state education circles for his leadership skills, as well as his extensive and diverse experience as an educator.teresa.stepzinski@jacksonville.com, (912) 264-0405

SCHOOL FORUMS

Three Georgia educators under consideration to become superintendent of the Glynn County School District will meet with the community and school system employees during two forums next week.

The finalists are Michael Bull, assistant superintendent of instruction for the Gainesville city school system, William "Al" Hunter, superintendent of the Brantley County School District, and Jimmy Willis, professional development specialist for the Georgia School Boards Association.

The community forum will be at 7 p.m. Thursday. The school staff forum will be at 10 a.m. Friday.

Both forums will be held in Memorial Auditorium at Glynn Academy, and will be hosted by the county Board of Education.

The Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce will host a "meet and greet" reception for the finalists in the lobby of the auditorium at 6:30 p.m. both days.

Audience members will have an opportunity to submit written questions to the finalists during both forums, said Jim Weidhaas, school district spokesman. The questions will be collected at the beginning of each session.

Source: Florida Times Union

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