WINNSBORO, S.C. — The search is on for a new superintendent for the Fairfield County School District. On Monday, the district released its list of finalists after a brief meeting with the board to vote on them.
On the list:
- Dr. Claudia Avery. She’s the current Deputy Superintendent of Academics with Fairfield County.
- Dr. Tony Hemingway also made it to the final round of interviews. He’s from Clover School District.
- Floyd Lyles is Deputy Superintendent for the SC Department of Juvenile Justice.
- Dr. Shawn Suber is Executive Director of Learning Support Services in Richland School District Two.
- Dr. Sam Whack is Director of Educator Effectiveness Recruitment and Retention for Clarendon County School District.
Current Superintendent Dr. J.R. Green announced months ago he’d retire effective June 30th.
That gives Fairfield County Schools a few months to find Green's replacement.
“February the third, we’re gonna have a what we call a meet and greet with the community," said Chair of the Fairfield County School Boards Henry Miller. "All five candidates will come to the high school.”
Parents and community members will be able to ask questions and get to know each candidate. In the days following the meet and greet, the district will conduct interviews with each of the five candidates.
"The perfect candidate has an education but also wants to be a part of the Fairfield County neighborhood," Miller said. "Community-oriented, someone that’s really puts themself in the community. I think that’s really important to this community and someone that knows academics.”
The hope is the next superintendent can push the district forward and have what the school board says is a “hunger for growth.”
“I think the five we’re looking at, the finalists I think we have all five are great individuals that would be able to take us to the next level,” Miller said.
The board hopes to decide on a new leader by February 7th.