Sellers named AP at ECHS
News Staff Report
Although the record will show that Escambia County Board of Education members voted unanimously last Friday, July 30, to negotiate with Michele M. McClung for the position of Superintendent of Education, the vote was actually close. Really close.
A recommendation from Alabama Association of School Boards assessors — that McClung should be the board’s choice as superintendent — was formalized during a special called meeting, held in the main courtroom of the county courthouse.
Actually, the initial vote was 4-3 in favor of McClung over Gary K. Glass, a principal in the Monroe County system. After a motion was made by board member Danny Benjamin and seconded by Mike Edwards, BOE members amended their vote.
If McClung, who has served as director of teaching, learning and assessment for Mobile County Schools since 2018, accepts the position, she is expected to take the local system’s reins before the end of August. The new superintendent will replace John Knott, who is retiring after seven years as chief administrator of county schools.
McClung also oversees planning, budgeting, conducting and keeping records of professional development for the Mobile County system’s 4,000 teachers, as well as its administrators and staff.
She is a 30-year educator and was previously principal at Dawes Intermediate School, which opened under her leadership and earned a National Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School of Excellence award.
A series of public interviews of the six finalists (from a reported 32 applicants) were held Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of last week, at Flomaton High School. Each candidate was questioned by BOE members for an hour and 15 minutes.
The other four finalists were: Sandra Reid, assistant superintendent, Escambia County School System; Dr. Stephen “Clay” Webber, principal in the Marshall County school system; Wade Shipman, retired superintendent of Tallassee City Schools, and Dr. Barbarietta Turner, director of student services for Monroe County Schools.
School officials are reportedly negotiating with McClung this week and hope to have a signed contract before the week is out.
The BOE also approved personnel recommendations by Superintendent Knott. Among them was an employment change for Leslie Sellers at Escambia County High School. Sellers, formerly the business education leader, was named assistant principal, replacing Randall Jackson who was previously transferred to Pollard McCall Junior High School as principal.
Resignation
1. Charles Jackson, custodian, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective July 2. Kathy Douglas, 6-hour lunchroom worker, W.S. Neal Middle School, effective July 23, 2021
Transfer
1. Shania Hadley, LPN/special education instructional aide, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, to LPN/special education instructional aide, Huxford Elementary School, effective August 4, 2021
Employment
1. Sandra Forbes, elementary teacher, Escambia County Middle School, effective August 4, 2021 (replacing Marsha Wilson)
2. Terries Lett, assistant principal, Rachel Patterson Elementary School, effective August 2, 2021 (replacing Keiana White)
3. Pamela Richardson, LPN/Special Education Instructional Aide, W.S. Neal Elementary School, effective August 4, 2021 (Replacing Terri Smith)
Employment change
1. Leslie Sellers, business education teacher, Escambia County High School, to assistant principal, Escambia County High School, effective August 2, 2021
(replacing Randall Jackson)