Elmore Co. Supt. Finalists Interview Before Public
Elmore County Schools is a step closer to getting a new superintendent. The final two candidates spent the day in open-public interviews for the job. School board members asked Elmore County deputy superintendent, Dr. Andre Harrison, and Prattville High School Principal, Richard Dennis, a series of questions before the public — including what makes them the right person for the job. “My diverse experiences and what have you… and you can also see I’m a good team player just being sent to go do this do that,” Said Harrison. “I’ve spent 22 years in Elmore County. The first 6 years with Theordore Jackson at Millbrook Middle,” Said Dennis. Both finalists have 22 years of experience working in Elmore County. And both have different goals if they become the district’s next superintendent. “I want to talk about expanding our opportunities at the middle school to get them ready for high school,” Said Harrison. “I’d be looking at the hiring and staffing for fiscal year 2013,” Said Dennis. The board also asked each of the finalists about some of challenges the district is facing. “We have done a lot of construction here in Elmore county but at the same time, board, we still have some work to be done,” Said Harrison. “Communicating expectations to those people who are in leadership roles as department leaders, department heads, directors,” Said Dennis. There is one issue that could prohibit Dennis from getting the job. He has a family member who works in the Elmore County school system. Under Alabama law, if you enter a school system as a superintendent as of August 2013 and you have family in that school system — that’s prohibited. While the law does not have to change the board’s decision on who they chose, the law can be challenged. Board members hope to announce their decision next Tuesday. Wednesday afternoon we reported the third finalist, Robert Kyle McCartney the principal of Oxford Middle School, dropped out of the race.
