By Gerri Miller
Staff Writer
Last Monday, the Autauga County Board of Education interviewed its first two finalists for the position of Superintendent. Two additional candidates were interviewed Thursday and the last two finalists will be interviewed tonight.
Timothy Tidmore, deputy superintendent for federal programs and student services at Albertville City School District and Dr. Greg DeJarnett, an education administrator at the Alabama Department of Education were interviewed at last Monday’s Meet and Greet.
Timothy Tidmore
Tidmore is a graduate of Auburn University (BS, Secondary General Science Composite), The University of Alabama (MA in Secondary General Science Composite) and Jacksonville State University (P-12 Administration Certificate Add-On). He began his teaching career more than 30 years ago as the Advanced Chemistry and AP Biology teacher at North Jackson High School.
He has served as the Assistant Principal of a K-12 school where he was also the 7th-12th teacher and he also served at two middle schools. Tidmore was the building principal for a 5th – 6th grade school, special education coordinator for two systems, and a central office administrator. Tidmore has served as an administrator for Albertville City Schools since September 2001.
Prior to being appointed Deputy Superintendent, Tidmore served as the Director of Federal Programs/Student Services for Albertville City Schools from July 1, 2011 until being appointed Deputy Superintendent on July 1, 2019. While his title changed to Deputy Superintendent, his duties and areas of responsibility did not. He is responsible for all Federal grant programs, Special Education Department and staff, system McKinney Vento Homeless Liaison, Section 504 Director, Enrollment Office, Truancy Office, Migrant Out of School Youth state fiscal director, School Counseling Program, School Nurse Program, IT Department, EL program and staff, Maintenance Department, Transportation Department, Facilities Department, Title IV Compliance Director, System Disciplinary Due Process Hearing Officer, Compliance Monitoring Director, and System Safety Program Director.
“I work closely with our financial office in all budget matters, ensuring compliance with both federal and state guidelines. I have budget responsibilities for all programs operating with federal funds and several budgets that utilize state funding,” he said.
In addition to the above experiences, Tidmore has also been an adjunct Biology Instructor for Northeast Alabama Community College.
Tidmore said he has a great deal of experience in facilities management and construction. “Most recently, I have been involved from the ground up on two major building projects,” he said. “I was involved from the initial meeting with the architect to the final inspection with the State Building Commission. In addition, I am the supervisor for our facilities department.”
Tidmore said he has seen first-hand the importance extracurricular activities have on his students. “My sons were involved in athletics and fine arts. I served as an officer in their booster clubs throughout their high school attendance,” he said. “Often time, extracurricular activities are the things that keep students in school and graduating.”
He said he believes that a school system should offer a well-rounded extracurricular “menu” of offerings. “Each student should have the opportunity to find their niche in every school,” he said.
Tidmore said that increasing communication and building trust are two of the most important parts of a superintendent’s jobs. He outlined to the Board his 100-day plan to increase communication and building trust.
“It includes students, parents, staff members, administrators, community leaders and district personnel,” he said. “I truly believe that your superintendent must be able to lead people, not numbers. I am not looking at this position as a stepping stone for the next position. I am looking for a position in which I can work with an outstanding staff and leave a positive impact for our students.”
Dr. Greg DeJarnett
Dr. Greg DeJarnett is a graduate of Montevallo University, (B.S.) and Alabama State University (M.S, Ph.D.) He has served as a teacher, coach, bus driver, assistant principal, high school principal, central office supervisor of pupil transportation, and as an education specialist and education administrator with the Alabama Department of Education.
He said one of his greatest accomplishments was serving as a turnaround principal in Chilton County. “The school had several needs consisting of improving discipline, financial management, improving moral, restoring community confidence,” he said. “After my tenure there and improving the school’s needs, the school was left in a better state.”
Dr. DeJarnett said he understands the pressures that are placed on school principals and the importance of delegation when it comes to their roles.
“The superintendent must communicate his/her vision and expectations to the principals and allow them the flexibility to do their job,” he said. “I expect all employees to be where they are supposed to be and to do the things they are supposed to do. As a veteran administrator, I know the importance of support and guidance.”
He said teacher performance should be evaluated through walk-throughs, evaluation systems, self-assessments, one-on-one conversations, test scores, and parent feedback. “The thing to remember is we have great teachers and must remember that teachers go above and beyond the call of duty. They spend personal money and time, while dealing with their own anxieties of the current Covid-19 situation. We have to support the administrators so they can better support the teachers,” he said.
Extracurricular activities should play a crucial role in school systems, Dr. DeJarnett said.
“We must remember that extracurricular activities go beyond sports. Band, chorus, drama, arts, etc.… must be kept in consideration,” he said. “Everyone is not an athlete. Students who are involved in extracurricular activities have higher grades, learn leadership skills, dependability, teamwork, etc.… Extracurricular activities improve the whole school and community.”
He said he believes a good career and technical education program is also vital because businesses and industries locating in Alabama need skilled employees. “We must partner with the local chamber of commerce, the two-year college system, and local manufacturers, to find out from them what their needs are and work together to provide future employees with the skills they need,” he said.
Dr. DeJarnett said he has extensive experience with facilities management and construction. “As a building level administrator serving as an assistant principal and high school principal, facility safety and management are responsibilities that are associated with the job. As an employee with the ALSDE, one of my roles is to monitor schools throughout the state for compliance of the laws regarding safety,” he said.
He said he also has extensive construction experience as a business owner, city councilman and minister.
What does he believe he brings to the table? He has established relationships with numerous state and local entities. He said he is approachable and trustworthy and a problem solver who uses a team approach.
Tonight’s Interviews
Tonight, Dr. Penny Johnson, an assistant superintendent of curriculum, professional learning, and assessment at Troup County (Ga.) Schools, and Lee Willis, deputy superintendent-director of technology and campus safety for Morgan County Schools, will be interviewed.
Due to social distancing guidelines, the Superintendent Meet and Greet hosted by the BOE and the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce is being held during three different sessions. The first was Monday, October 12th, and the second was on Thursday, October 15th. Tonight’s session will be held in the Prattville High School Cafeteria, 1315 Upper Kingston Road at 5 p.m. Interviews for the two finalists are being held immediately after each event and the public can attend the interviews.
The new superintendent will lead the Autauga County School District beginning in 2021. Out of thirty-six candidates, six finalists were selected by a search committee hired by the Autauga County School Board.
