Gilmer Board of Education Searches for a “SUPER”-intendent

Gilmer County, GA – With the application deadline of May 8th, 2015 closing in fast, the search for a new Superintendent, being handled by King-Cooper & Associates, is about to enter it’s next stage of progression.The latest step in that progression included a public survey the Board released to gather information. They would like to sincerely thank all 397 responders that weighed in their opinions (241 employees and 156 citizens). While most of the responses and comments were expected, including a desire for a focus on the children and academics, high moral fiber, and leadership skills, there were several other, more specific, responses.
In fact, one of the lowest scoring qualities on the survey was experience in Schools outside of Gilmer, indicating that the people are not as interested in an outsider. One responder said, “The person should be a lifelong educator who has served in the Gilmer County School System for their entire, or almost entire, career.”
The other main thing seen in the survey is a cry for stability. The people want someone who is here to stay with several responders noting how the recent years have been fraught with problems on maintaining a constant rather than a “roller-coaster” of superintendents.
With this consistency, other things rise to importance such as visibility to be seen more in the schools enriching relationships with teachers, a transparency and openness as to how the offices are running, a trust in his/her staff to accomplish things and a willingness to delegate to them, and a strong decisive nature that will stand on his own.
Mr. Sandy Addis of King-Cooper & Associates, the company conducting the survey, will continue supporting and providing information to the Board of Education as the Board calls interviews in mid to late May. Mr. Addis also wished to stress that, while they do continue to support them, the Board will ultimately hold the final say in both the interviews and the hiring process.

Story by Lonnie Adams