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School Board Picks 3 Finalists Candidates for Glynn County District Superintendent Will Be Introduced to the Community, Meet Teachers Next Week.

Posted on: Thursday, 21 July 2005, 12:00 CDT

BRUNSWICK -- The Glynn County Board of Education has selected three experienced Georgia educators as finalists for consideration to become school district superintendent.

In alphabetical order, they are:

-- Michael Bull, assistant superintendent for instruction of 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, as well as retired superintendent of the Oglethorpe County School District.

"These three gentlemen stood out among the others, who were all good and strong candidates. They are the best of the best," school board Chairwoman LaVerne Cooper said.

Bull, Hunter and Willis were chosen from among seven semi- finalists interviewed this week by board members in executive session at The Cloister resort on Sea Island.

Government bodies are allowed to meet in private to discuss personnel matters, but any action must be taken in public. Only the names of the three finalists must be made public, according to Georgia law.

The board reached a unanimous decision about who the finalists should be. However, it wasn't an easy decision because all seven semifinalists were excellent candidates, Cooper said.

Cooper, the board's designated spokeswoman during the selection process, summarized each finalist's qualifications that led the panel to select them.

Bull has a strong track record in school programs and progress with student achievement. The Gainesville school system has become a model for others in the district in large part because of Bull's efforts, she said.

Under Hunter's leadership, the Brantley school system has made strong, steady gains in student achievement, especially in reading. Hunter also has demonstrated an ability to build schools and implement other improvements with very limited state and local funding, Cooper said.

Cooper said Willis "has a wealth of experience." He has trained school board members and worked with school systems statewide. In addition, he served as Oglethorpe County schools superintendent from 1996 to 2002, when he retired and joined the school boards association, she said.

The public will have a chance to meet all three finalists during a community meeting tentatively slated for 7 p.m. Thursday, at the Glynn Academy auditorium, she said.

The three then will meet with Glynn teachers, principals and support staff at 10 a.m. Friday also at the auditorium.

The school board will do a second round of interviews with each of them separately from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday Cooper said.

After that, the board will begin deliberations on its choice.

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

Twenty-eight educators from Georgia and neighboring states applied for the position. Local educators among the semi-finalists were Glynn Interim Superintendent Delacy Sanford and Principal Joseph Barrow of Glynn Academy, officials said.

teresa.stepzinski@jacksonville.com, (912) 264-0405

Source: Florida Times Union

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