HCDE to Conduct Final Interviews for new Superintendent

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Hamilton County School Board members are one step closer to picking a superintendent.

On Monday, school board members conducted their final Skype interviews for the superintendent position.

Hamilton County superintendent candidates Jack Elsey, Dr. Kirk Kelly and Dr. Timothy Gadson made their pitch to the school board.

Elsey says everyone deserves a quality education.

“I believe that schools are the key to eliminating generational poverty in this country,” Elsey said.

Elsey says he has had experience in previous jobs with home visits being a way to meet emotional needs of children in low performing schools.

“Our teacher’s were trained and then went out to students’ homes, one to build a little bit more empathy where students were coming from. But also to meet with parents and families and guardians in their homes to understand how can we better support this child in school,” Elsey said.

Some school board members say they were concerned Elsey and Dr. Gadson had moved around a lot to different jobs.

“I am hoping my next move is one that lasts a longtime,” Elsey said.

“You will see as each move I have made has been because of increasingly more responsibility,” Dr. Gadson said.

Dr. Kelly says as interim superintendent he has worked well with school board members.

“A successful superintendent looks like a person who is creating a great leadership team and I feel that we have been gelling together as a team,” Dr. Kelly said.

Dr. Kelly says one things he has done and would continue to do is get out and interact with students and parents.

“That way if anybody has any questions we are right there to address them. And we will be seen supporting our schools,” he said.

Candidates believe Hamilton County Schools have great potential.

“Hamilton County Schools will rise better and stronger than it was before,” Dr. Gadson said.

They will narrow the field on Thursday and then do in person interviews. The goal is to have a new superintendent picked by June 15.