Six finalists announced for Montgomery school superintendent position

Montgomery Public Schools has announced the names of six finalists for the vacant school superintendent position.

The position became vacant when Dr. Melvin Brown resigned last year after about two years on the job.

These are the finalists and information about each of them:

Dr. Zickeyous Byrd—Former Superintendent Selma City Public Schools

Dr. Zickeyous Byrd – Photo from Montgomery Public Schools

As a proud resident of Montgomery and an experienced superintendent with 9.5 years of leadership, Dr. Byrd has consistently driven improvements in student achievement, community engagement, trust-building, school culture, and financial management. He says that his leadership is rooted in servant leadership, accountability, and a deep commitment to ensuring that every student, regardless of background, has access to a high-quality education.

To improve student achievement, Dr. Byrd has focused on curriculum alignment, teacher support, and rigorous, standards-based instruction. He implemented pacing guides, quarterly benchmark assessments, and targeted interventions to support struggling learners. Additionally, Dr. Byrd has expanded dual enrollment programs, increased STEM opportunities, and established magnet academies to provide diverse educational pathways. Through data-driven instruction and strategic teaching, his efforts have led to measurable academic growth.

Community engagement has been central to Dr. Byrd’s leadership. He has built strong relationships with parents, local businesses, and political leaders, fostering collaboration to expand educational opportunities. His hands-on, open door, and relatable leadership style has strengthened trust and fostered a shared vision for success.

Improving school culture and climate required intentional leadership and clear expectations. Dr. Byrd prioritized student well-being, respect, expanded extracurricular programs, and created leadership opportunities to foster school pride. Dr. Byrd introduced QR codes in each building and distributed quarterly customer service surveys to gather feedback from students, employees, and stakeholders.

Dr. Byrd has led districts from financial instability to sustainability through strategic budgeting, securing grants, and maximizing resources.

Dr. Constance Evelyn—Former Superintendent Valley Stream 13 School District, NY

Dr. Constance Evelyn – Photo from Montgomery Public Schools

Dr. Evelyn’s strengths lie in her ability to analyze systems holistically, communicate, and build strong relationships with all stakeholders. She has earned the trust and respect of school communities by effectively activating strategic goals and achieving results.

In Auburn, NY, Dr. Evelyn managed a budget of $80M and led the improvement of their financial systems by relentlessly pursuing state resources that had not been accessed in the past. She developed a shared service model with municipalities. This required multiple visits with students, staff, and board members to the capital in Albany and local legislative offices. After capturing millions of dollars in state resources, Dr. Evelyn’s team successfully applied for several state and federal competitive grants totaling approximately thirteen million dollars. Her team met during town hall meetings, fireside chats, and during “Open Door Fridays with the Superintendent” as some of the activities organizing these efforts.

In Valley Stream, Dr. Evelyn extended their $50M budget by working with the Board and community to pass a historic capital improvement bond totaling almost $40 million, the first in the district’s history. Additionally, her team executed an energy performance contract that stretched our ability to upgrade district facilities by another $10 million and promoted energy savings of over $300,000 annually.

In Auburn and Valley Stream, Dr. Evelyn worked closely with board members to develop a plan with key performance indicators that were representative of the communities will as it related to student outcomes. She used a variety of methods to activate community engagement including district strategic plan subcommittees and well as Thought Exchange, a survey tool that communities find engaging and facile. Auburn’s graduation rate increased by over eight (8) percentage points during her tenure as the superintendent, students with special needs were more included resulting in dramatic gains for students, and she attained adequate yearly progress, successfully removing the district from the state’s priority schools list. Valley Stream’s math and reading scores exceeded state averages and continued to increase during her tenure as the superintendent for all student groups, and the district initiated a comprehensive prekindergarten program with no waiting list for all four-year-olds.

Dr. Barbara Lashley—Deputy Superintendent, Rome, Georgia, City Schools

Dr. Barbara Lashley – Photo from Montgomery Public Schools

Dr. Lashley calls Montgomery County home. She grew up in Montgomery County and is a graduate of Alabama State University. She started her teaching career in Montgomery County before moving to Atlanta, Nashville, East Baton Rouge, and now Rome, Georgia.

Dr. Lashley is dedicated to student achievement, servant leadership, and financial stewardship—values that align with Montgomery Public Schools’ leader profile.

She has led data-driven initiatives that resulted in a 75% increase in third-grade reading fluency in 10 weeks. Her hands-on leadership style fostered sustainable growth through high expectations. Both in Nashville Public Schools and East Baton Rouge Public Schools, Dr. Lashley led efforts to increase K-12 literacy. Her time in Nashville resulted in the city’s reading scores growing faster than the state and nation as measured by NWEA, and state reading scores grew faster than the state in all grade levels. Similarly, in East Baton Rouge, literacy scores began to move after decades of decline. As Deputy Superintendent in Rome, Dr. Lashley has prioritized instructional improvement through ensuring all schools have high-quality curricula, coaches, and targeted professional development.

She has engaged stakeholders, promoting transparent communication and trust. She prioritizes listening to students, families, teachers, and the community, creating a shared responsibility for student success. Through strategic planning—such as leading literacy task forces and aligning curriculum—she has ensured all initiatives support unified goals.

Dr. Lashley has managed a $2.8 million literacy budget for a district of 41,000 students. In Rome City Public Schools, she oversees a $68 million dollar budget. The total budget for Rome City Public Schools is $83.2 million.

Mr. Scott Schneider– Chief of Schools, Duval County Public Schools, FL

Mr. Scott Schneider – Photo from Montgomery Public Schools

Under Mr. Schneider’s leadership in Duval County Public Schools, the district has made significant strides in student achievement by implementing a 4-step data analysis process that ensures targeted, individualized instruction. As a result, 91% of Duvall County’s 158 schools are now rated C or better, and a graduation rate of 95% demonstrating our commitment to academic excellence.

Mr. Schneider has led community engagement initiatives in his current district. By fostering strong partnerships with families, businesses, and stakeholders, the district has built a culture of shared responsibility for student outcomes. Transparency and collaboration have been key to strengthening trust across the district.

Financial stewardship has remained a top priority for Mr. Schneider. Through strategic budgeting and resource allocation, Duvall County Schools have maximized funding to directly support classroom instruction, teacher development, and student resources. Mr. Schenider’s internal philosophy is to invest in people and not programs. Mr. Schneider currently directly oversees $9 million dollars. He oversees 158 schools in a district with a budget of $1.2 billion dollars.

Angela Whitelaw—Deputy Superintendent, Memphis-Shelby County Public Schools

Dr. Angela Whitelaw – Photo from Montgomery Public Schools

Throughout Dr. Whitelaw’s leadership tenure, she has dedicated her professional career to providing equitable and high-quality educational opportunities to students of diverse populations. By implementing research-based instructional strategies, customized learning approaches, and continuous professional development for educators and leaders, Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) has been a Level 5 District (Growing faster than the average growth of schools in TN) for three consecutive years and the number of “F” schools has reduced by nearly 50%.

Dr. Whitelaw prioritized utilizing assessment data to pinpoint student needs, monitor progress, adjust teaching strategies, and has ensured a tailored approach to education that meets individual student requirements. She has worked to establish strong partnerships with families, communities, and businesses to bolster learning experiences inside and outside the classroom. Dr. Whitelaw has forged partnerships with organizations like FedEx, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Strategic Partners of Literacy, the University of Memphis, and LeMoyne Owen College to provide valuable opportunities for students and improve access to services.

She is an active participant in community events, and she has a regular presence in schools. This has resulted in a culture of transparency, openness, trust, and collaboration within the district, leading to stronger relationships with all stakeholders.
In terms of financial management, Dr. Whitelaw strategically manages $150 million dollars. She has been instrumental in the strategic allocation and efficient utilization of resources, ensuring that budget decisions are in alignment with the district’s educational objectives and priorities. Dr. Whitelaw has optimized resource allocation to support educational initiatives and student success.

Dr. Harold Wright– Deputy Superintendent of Achievement and Leadership at Crowley Independent School District in Fort Worth, Texas

Dr. Harold Wright – Photo from Montgomery Public Schools

As a data-driven leader, Dr. Wright consistently delivered measurable academic improvements. Utilizing needs assessments, he targeted reading and math, leading 13 of his district’s schools to significant accountability gains at the state level, with no schools receiving failing grades.

All schools within his school district achieved improved kindergarten reading levels for literacy by focusing on principal and teacher practices through specialized PD and the science of reading. In Crowley ISD, all elementary schools achieved an A or B rating, while high schools earned B’s, showcasing growth in reading and math across all levels.

Community engagement has been a cornerstone of Dr. Wright’s approach. He launched state-level leadership conferences focused on core educational areas and led a successful bond and strategic planning processes in Crowley ISD, involving diverse stakeholders. He has also fostered community connections through cultural events and maintained a visible presence in schools and community meetings.

Dr. Wright developed a new strategic plan and goals by engaging the community in a 9-month collaborative engagement process that included assessing his district’s needs, assessing its current state, and setting goals for the future. Dr. Wright’s budget management experience includes overseeing a $172 million dollar budgets at the school and state levels, achieving fiscal responsibility and state recognition. Dr. Wright has also navigated underfunded state priorities, ensuring safe school environments.

— Information from Montgomery Public Schools