Interim superintendent on track toward permanent job in Russell County

All indications show the Russell County School District's next superintendent will be the person already working in that role as the system's interim leader.

The consensus on the Russell County Board of Education is to encourage interim superintendent Brenda Coley to apply for the permanent position and hope she stands out among the applicants, board chairman Keith Mitchell told the Ledger-Enquirer in an interview Thursday.

And it doesn't look like there will be much competition. Two weeks into the 30-day application period, which ends Aug. 31, Mitchell is aware of only one applicant, someone from South Carolina, he said.

"We're not going through a lot of trouble to look outside the system because we do feel comfortable with this individual doing the job and we're subject to leaning toward her," Mitchell said. "But, at the same time, we're advertising the position. So, if (other candidates) put in a packet, we're going to look at it. We haven't made up our mind. But it's a pretty warm feeling across the board about her."

The feeling is so comfortable, it prompted the board to conduct the superintendent search by itself and save thousands of dollars in consulting fees, Mitchell said.

"We just feel like we possibly would have someone who could continue to lead the school district in-house," he said in a separate interview last week. "At this point in time, the board is stable enough and the system is stable enough and moving forward, I don't think we have to have a superstar, not saying we don't have one."

Coley, a 1984 graduate of Russell County High School, has 27 years of experience as an educator in the system. She became interim superintendent when Mike Green resigned May 1 without a public explanation. She was the district's administrative services director for 1½ years and principal of Oliver Elementary for nine years. Her other previous positions include assistant principal and teacher at Ladonia Elementary.

After earning education degrees at Auburn University (bachelor’s and master’s) and Troy University (specialist's), Coley completed her doctorate in administrative leadership this spring through Walden University’s online program.

Coley said Thursday she indeed wants to be Russell County’s permanent superintendent. She hasn’t applied yet, she said, because preparing for the new school year, which started Monday, has been the priority, “but I plan on doing that as soon as possible, hopefully today or no later than tomorrow.”

The support she has received from the board, staff and the community, Coley said, confirms her belief she can fill the role well.

“I just have a lot of people behind me,” she said. “I feel like it’s a divine opportunity. … I feel led to do it.”

Coley added that she isn’t “entitled” to the job. “If the board decides to take a different direction,” she said, “I’m OK with that. I’ll be just as committed to my former position.”

The Ledger-Enquirer tried to poll the rest of the seven-member board. The two other members who commented Thursday also expressed support for Coley.

“If she applies for it, yes,” said board member Joseph Williams. “She’s doing a great job. She seems to be listening and working well with her peers.”

Williams favors promoting from within the district.

“Any time you have a homegrown person, that’s best,” he said. “They know the system and they know the people.”

Board member Dillie Elliott praised Coley for her dedication to the district.

“She has come in running and hasn’t stopped running,” Elliott said. “She is doing an awesome job taking care of business, like it should be done.”

Asked for an example, Elliott said, "One of the things I like about her is that she keeps us well informed on what she's doing and why she's doing it. Sometimes, other superintendents would do it sporadically, but she's doing it on a regular basis."

Elliott called Coley "one of these God-fearing women who believe in prayer and working by the book and the law. Brenda isn't going to take any decision lightly. She'll pray over it and do what's best for the children."

Mitchell said he doesn't know of any complaints about Coley from board members, system employees or county residents.

"I haven't heard a word," he said. "The only comments I've had were that's she's doing a good job."

Any superintendent interview the board conducts will be open to the public, Mitchell has said.

According to Alabama law, boards of education that fail to fill their superintendent vacancy within 180 days shall have their state funding withheld until one is hired, unless the state superintendent determines the board "exhibits good faith and reasonable effort in progress toward selecting a superintendent."

That means Oct. 28 is the deadline for Russell County to hire its next superintendent.

Mark Rice, 706-576-6272. Follow him on Twitter@MarkRiceLE.

This story was originally published August 13, 2015 at 3:33 PM with the headline "Interim superintendent on track toward permanent job in Russell County ."