Five Candidates Interview For Jackson County Director Of Schools

The Jackson County Board of Education met in a special called session Thursday night to interview five director of school candidates.

All five candidates were allotted 30 minutes to answer questions. The board brought each member before them in an order decided randomly.

First up was Jackson County Middle School Principal Gary Tinsley on how he would address personnel not meeting expectations. He said it hinges on the difference between power and authority.

“You serve the people in your building where you have authority with them where you can go and have a conversation and talk about things that need to change and respond,” “Whereas power, most people see an organization of employees and assume the person at the top has power and they tell people what to do, but really it’s more about serving. The person at the top, they have the most people to serve.”

Next was Jackson County High School Principal Jason Hardy on his approach to issues with recruiting teachers back into the school district.

“We’re going to keep our teachers here because everything we can we’re going to keep competitive,” Hardy said. “We’re going to make our culture where you don’t want to leave. What can I do to make you feel good? What can I do to make you feel valued? Because that’s what we are as teachers. We’re here for a reason, just about every one of them knew what the salary was when they got into. But they need to feel valued.”

Former Overton County Educator Wayne Sells said when it comes to balancing personal relationships with tough decisions professionally, the key is steadiness.

“Firm and consistent and address your behaviors, never take it personally,” Sells said.”You don’t set precedents. If you’ve had an issue with a similar situation, you want to be on track with that same type of punishment.”

Upperman High School Principal Steve Robbins said security has become the number one issue in school systems whether they like it or not.

“Our kids have got to get there safe and get home safe,” Robbins said. “And when I started you never thought of that a long time ago, but now, it’s just been too much. And I think it’s on all of us, at Upperman High School where I’m at now, that’s my number one deal.”

Jackson County PreK-8th Grade Instructional Supervisor Tammy Woolbright on wanting to continue the district’s projection if selected as director:

“Education is moving in the right direction,” Woolbright said. “Our students have more opportunities for complex text, more opportunities for answering those questions. But what I want you to know is if that is the direction you want to continue, and that is the path, I’m the person for that. Because I’ve seen that vision, and I know the direction we’re heading.”

The school board members commended the interviewees on their preparedness and their responses. They said they have a tough decision ahead of them.

The board voted to move forward with all interviewees to be considered for hire. They will reconvene on July 20th to select the next school director. Supervisor of Secondary Education Deb Whitaker will serve as interim director for five days between Kristy Brown’s departure on July 14th and the next meeting.