Interim superintendent selected

Danielle Brewer [Marion County Public Schools]

After a swift search to hire an interim superintendent, the Marion County School Board selected Danielle Brewer, a local candidate and internal staff member, at the April 17 work session.

Brewer has worked as an assistant principal and principal in Marion County Public Schools from 2012 to 2021, and then became the Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Digital Learning for two years and the Senior Executive Director of High Schools and Secondary Curriculum for another two.

“I am grateful that it appears the board really did prioritize internal candidates,” Board Member Sarah James said. “I do believe fundamentally they just are most aware of what is going on right now.”

On April 4, the position was posted districtwide and open to internal and external applicants. The application window closed six days later, resulting in seven candidates who met the minimum job description.

Board members separately interviewed the seven prospective employees and individually scored their top three choices. Brewer and Melissa Kinard were the top two ranked contenders.

Board Member Allison Campbell said four of the candidates were local, including Brewer and Kinard, starting in the district as classroom teachers and moving up to the various positions they have now.

Kinard is a transformation schools area director.

Brewer scored 11 points while Kinard scored 9 points. A third applicant was not considered after scores revealed a five-point gap between 2^nd and 3^rd place.

During the work session, board members shared their different parameters on how to remain neutral during the interview process, keeping the duration, questions and meeting method the same for each candidate.

Campbell requested further discussion over the top two candidates but was denied by the board to prevent “division” in the district.

James said, “Personally, I would not like to publicly weigh out strengths and weaknesses of two top leaders in this district.”

Due to the scores and board agreement, Brewer was selected as the interim superintendent, and a contract will be finalized at a special board meeting on April 29.

Brewer will undergo a transition period where she will work alongside current Superintendent Diane Gullett. Her start date for this period will be determined after the contract details are discussed.

“I know that Dr. Gullett has diligently been working on lists of things she wants to ensure that her successor, whether it be interim or permanent, has information on,” Campbell said.

An estimated date for an official superintendent to be found will also need to be set, so Brewer will know when she is nearing the end of her contract.

“I am confident that our top choice, based on this ranking, is going to be okay and will get us through this season until we get to where we need to be in selecting the superintendent,” Vice Chair Eric Cummings said.

The board has yet to set a search method or hire a firm to find a new superintendent in place of Gullett, and Chair Lori Conrad was implored by Campbell to start that conversation due to community concern.