Members of the Overton County School Board want the next director of schools to have experience and a heart for students.
School Board Member Ricky Dodson said he would like the next director to have at least three years of administrative experience. Dodson also said it’s important that the next director has a heart for the children of Overton County.
“I mean, we are not just competing locally anymore,” Dodson said. “We are competing globally in our workforce and our education today, and that’s why we’ve got to remember every day when we come here in meeting every day and laugh, we’ve got to figure out what is best for the children of our county and how we can get them to that level of that achievement.”
School Board Chairman William Abston said all board members want student scores to increase. Abston said he is looking for a leader.
“In the new director, I would just like to see somebody that has the experience that can make this position into what it needs to be and can lead this school system into the future,” Abston said.
Dodson said working with a new director is not too difficult, especially if the new director is someone who is local. Dodson said he does not have a particular area of the school system that could be improved upon under a new director.
“Things have been going really well here in Overton County,” Dodson said. “We are just trying to implement more programs, and programs all the time to help our students to grow and achieve more higher goals.”
Dodson said multiple candidates have applied for the position. The school board is closing towards the end of the one-month application period and will soon begin reviewing candidates. Dodson said he is hoping the search for a new director is wrapped up soon.
