Dr. Timothy Gadson interviewed for superintendent position

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Hamilton County School Board continued its in-person interviews with the superintendent candidates.

On Wednesday it was Dr. Timothy Gadson’s turn for his visit. He is currently superintendent designee and executive director of curriculum and schools for Robbinsdale Area Schools in Minnesota.

Dr. Gadson spent a full day getting familiar with the Hamilton County School system. In the afternoon he answered questions from community members. People wanted to know how he would determine if inequity was one of the root causes of whether a school is high performing or not.

“I truly believe you can’t get to equity without being equal. A way that we addressed it in Atlanta is we established a standard of service, a minimum that every school has to get to be on par,” Dr. Gadson said.

School board members then interviewed Dr. Gadson. One school board member stressed the importance of stability and asked him why he has moved around so much.

“I go where there is a need and I think all of the training and experience that I have gotten helping and supporting superintendents has prepared me for the job to lead,” Dr. Gadson said.

When asked about his thoughts on the state’s plans with the five IZone schools in the county, Dr. Gadson says he doesn’t support either of the proposed options. He says he would like to meet the Tennessee Education Commissioner to discuss the issue.

“I think it is important for me to share with her my experience in school transformation and turn around. And present to her a framework for how we can do that work in the district. There is some merit in what she is proposing in the partnership district, what that merit is is a local school governance council,” Dr. Gadson said.

Dr. Gadson told school board members he believes college and career readiness should start in Pre-K.

“So the moment those students enter our facilities and our care, whether it is a full day program or half day program, we are responsible for preparing those students for a career, college and life,” Dr. Gadson said.

On Thursday, superintendent candidate Dr. Bryan Johnson will go through the same interview process.