Autauga County Board of Education Delays Selection of New Superintendent

By Gerri Miller

EAN Staff Writer

The much-anticipated announcement of a new Autauga County School Superintendent has been delayed because the board is in the process of vetting the six finalists. The Board had planned to select the new school superintendent in a special meeting called Thursday night.

Board President Mark Hinman said the announcement will be made at the Board’s next meeting. A date for that meeting has not yet been set. “We aren’t going to hurry the process,” he said. “We want to get it right, so if takes a little extra time, we apologize.”

The Board has completed its interviews with the six finalists of 36 candidates who applied for the job. A law passed last year gave the Board the power to appoint a superintendent. Current Superintendent Spence Agee decided not to seek re-election this year. His term ends Dec. 31.

The six finalists for Superintendent include:

• Gregory DeJarnett: An education administrator at the Alabama Department of Education. He holds a doctorate degree and has held his current position since 2014. He served as principal of Chilton County High School from 2008 to 2012 and was transportation director for the Chilton County Schools from 2004-2008.
• Michele Eller: Now a chief academic officer and assistant superintendent at Chickasaw City Schools, a post she has held since July 2019. She holds a doctorate. She also worked with the Eufaula City Schools as director of teaching and learning from February 2019 to June 2019. Before then, she was director of secondary instruction at Eufaula schools from November 2015 to February 2019.
• Tim Guinn: Serves as assistant superintendent at Russellville City Schools, a position he has held since June of 2016. He holds a doctorate. Has also served as a principal with the Russellville system from March 2009 to June 2016.
• Penny Johnson: Serves as assistant superintendent of curriculum, professional learning, and assessment at Troup County (Ga.) Schools, a position she held since July 2018. She holds a doctorate degree. She has also served as director of secondary education for the system. She also served as principal at LaGrange High School from 2012 to 2014.
• Timothy Tidmore: Serves as deputy superintendent for federal programs at Albertville City Schools. Served as the Assistant Principal of a K-12 school where he was also the 7^th-12^th teacher and he also served at two middle schools. Tidmore was the building principal for a 5^th – 6^th grade school, special education coordinator for two systems, and a central office administrator.
• Lee Willis: Now the deputy superintendent-director of technology and campus safety for Morgan County Schools. He has been the athletic director and assistant principal of technology at A.P. Brewer High School from January 2008 through January 2011. He also served as principal for Morgan County’s alternative school from January 2000 through January 2002 and assistant principal of Speake School from January 1991-January 1999.