Director of Schools Candidates; An overview of their interviews

The Lewis County School Board met in a special called meeting last Tuesday, May 3, where they interviewed three local candidates. The new director will be announced Tuesday, May 10. An update will be posted on the Herald’s Facebook page and website.. At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Qualls announced he had been contacted by the board’s attorney for a list of open records.

“I told him I would absolutely comply with his request.. to provide the requested documents related to the search.. So I am giving a copy of those documents to your chairman.. I have a responsibility to tell you which documents I have been requested to share. With that in mind, I will list all documents in that envelope.”

He pointed out that the Board’s policies contain a lot of permissive language, using “may,” and the only time it said “shall,” was when saying that all board members shall ask applicants questions during the interview. Mr. Qualls’ documents consisted of the minutes of their first meeting on January 25, their meeting on February 22 which contained 11 resumes, and the third document was a schedule for the one-on-one meeting.

“I don’t want to offend anyone in this hall or on this board, but it is my responsibility that you are afforded the knowledge of what I provided,” said Mr. Qualls, “So here are the recommendations from that meeting: Dr. McAbee was recommended by all nine board members, Dr. Treadway was recommended by 7, Dr. Tiller was recommended by 6, Dr. Barden was recommended by 5, Dr. Woods was recommended by 4.” He continued to say Trull, Helton and Patterson were recommended by one and the rest of the applicants were recommended by none.

The board members interviewed six candidates of the original eleven applicants. Each applicant was given an extensive interview that totaled a full nine hours of recordings. The following report will represent each candidate as accurately as possible, but will not be able to include all information. So for each candidate you will find their qualifications as they addressed them in their interview, at least one quote that resonated with the crowd, and at least one quote that gives the overall tone of their interview. The overviews are listed below in the order that they were interviewed.

Dr. Courtney Woods

In her opening statement, Dr. Woods said she was from Summertown and has served nearly 20 years in public education. She began as a teacher in Maury County where she taught Third, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth grades. She taught Algebra One in the Middle School grades. Then she worked at the CORE office at the State Department as a Math Coordinator, a Building Administrator at Giles County High School and is currently the 6th-12th Grade Supervisor of Giles County. In this position, Dr. Woods supervises curriculum, instruction, assessment, the district RTIT, textbooks, teacher leaders and more. She is also over the district’s improvement plan as well as differentiated pay.

“I spend every moment as a sports mom and wife, going to ballparks, gyms, football fields to support my daughters and their teammates. My husband coaches Middle School basketball and coached football last year in Summertown,” said Dr. Woods. “I’m also very involved with my church and my family and siblings.”

Each candidate saw something they could each improve on, for Dr. Woods, she focused on the attendance rate for Lewis County Schools and ways to engage the kids. She also focused on programs that were being implemented for kids to better learn Math and English, and how she’d like to bring their model to Lewis County. Dr. Woods also said she has had a good amount of experience writing and receiving grants. When asked if she had been involved with a building project to the scale of the new high school, she stated that she had not but felt comfortable with assuming the role.

“I believe with all my heart that there is no greater profession or calling than that of an educator. If I was blessed to be offered this position, it would be the most honorable position. I would be very influential in this profession because I love, I believe in, I’m dedicated to the students, teachers, parents, the community, my central office staff and you the Board to make sure that we do what’s best for the kids always.”

Dr. Tracy McAbee

In his opening statement, Dr. McAbee thanked Mrs. Angela Leigh and Nurse Wanda for setting up the event, and Board member Paula Dyer and Chair Glenda Atkinson for taking the candidates around the school system to meet the faculty.

He then introduced himself by saying he has been married to his wife, Amy, for 28 years and together they have two girls who are both in college. Dr. McAbee stated he started his career in education in 1996 and has been involved in education in just about any form: teacher, principal, administrator, bus driver, Board of Education member, special education, a coach and the director of RTI. He is currently the Director of Schools for Carter County in Elizabethton, TN.

“I am a person of faith, I have no problem talking about that at all. I am not one of those that try to hijack Jesus and scream it from the rooftops.. I don’t think that’s how you do that. You measure your faith by how you treat everybody, but especially how you treat people that can do nothing for you in return,” he said. “I take public education very seriously... because I do see many instances where it really changed the trajectory for a kid.”

Dr. McAbee put a spotlight on higher education not being only college by focusing on TCAT

Hohenwald being right across the street and Columbia State being only thirty minutes away.

“Nothing against a four-year college, I’ve got a degree and many of y’all do, but I think we may have pushed that a bit too hard. We need to be getting some kids interested in trades because if they can weld, if they can plumb or work on a car, then we need to do that,” said Dr. McAbee.

He spoke of implementing a relationship with TCAT here that he had implemented in Carter County with TCAT Elizabethton. There, he had written a grant for $1.2 million to re-envision the high school experience to have better engagement. His vision was to have high school graduates receive their associates degree at the same time they receive their high school diploma. Dr. McAbee said he had engaged their local state senator and state representative to accomplish this and the new funding formula for schools, TISA, would make this possible without a grant. So it would be free for students to go to TCAT and graduate. Depending on other elements, the same might be possible for taking kids to Columbia State, he said.

Dr. McAbee focused on transparency with the Board, teachers, students and the community as to what would be implemented in the school system. He also stated that he made it known he had an open door policy to anyone who wished to meet with him. Dr. McAbee also mentioned that communication was key and he would make himself visible in schools as he had at Carter County where he said had filled in for a principal that had to take sick leave. When asked if he would feel comfortable with the new high school being built, he responded that he had seen similar projects through before and would feel totally comfortable helping to manage the project. When asked about teacher pay, he said teachers needed consistent raise scales based on their level of teaching.

“Mr. Pace has been here for a generation and he’s appreciated and loved.. let’s call out the big elephant in the room: people are nervous. Those are some big shoes to fill but I do believe that one of these candidates would be a great fit to help Lewis County,” said McAbee. “I really believe other than the ministry that public education is the best hope we have for our next generation.. My main goal as Director of Schools is transparency. You need to know what I know.. My pledge to you would be that I would work tirelessly to try to provide the opportunities that the kids of Lewis County to become who and what they want to be in life, and I think that’s very doable here.”

Dr. Justin Barden

Dr. Barden stated he was the current principal of Dickson’s Charlotte Middle School and has been for six years. Six years before that he served in other administrative positions in both Dickson and Humbolt, and before that he had been a teacher and a coach. He also stated in his opening statement that he was married with four children.

“Being the Director of Schools has always been a goal I’ve had. From the beginning, I wanted to serve and [that’s why] I got into administration in order to reach a larger population.. It’s really about building by being a leader,” said Dr. Barden.

He focused on being transparent with in all aspects, supporting teachers and team building. He stated he has an open door policy and would be there to support those he works with.

“I’ve always been one that will [go wherever I need to]. I’ve got my bus license, if I can drive a route then let me know or if I can take students on a trip, let me know. I want to do that,” said Dr. Barden.

He pointed out that by looking at average report cards from Lewis County that the students’ achievements are above the state average. He said that the teachers were on the right track, and sited subject scores where roughly 30 percent on track/mastered the subject and 55 approaching.

“If we could just grab even half of that 55 percent and move them over to the other group, then we would have about 50 percent and that’s closer to where we need to be,” said Dr. Barden. “I would say that I feel very comfortable in leading that process.. [by] just being intentional in the work that we do, supporting teachers who are on the front line day in and day out. They know what resources and materials they need.. but we need to support them.”

When asked about the new high school project, he said he had not had experience with a building project of that caliber but felt comfortable leading it.

“I want to invest in the community and I want to invest in education..I love teaching, I love school, I love kids, coaching and driving a bus, and I’d love to bring that to Lewis County and work together to see Lewis County grow and achieve,” said Dr. Barden.

Larry Helton

Mr. Helton said he taught and coached at Lewis County High School for 13 years and was gone for eight. He said he was a teacher for all of his 36 years except for five in which he was in administration. He has four children that all graduated from Lewis County High School, and two grandchildren.

He focused on supporting the teachers and leading young people to do more than they think they can by providing them the right materials.

“When it comes to doing what’s best for our kids and providing for our teachers, I understand what they’re going through because I’ve been there where they’re at for the majority of 36 years... I like and love this community, that’s why I came back here because this community is a close-knit community with hard working people,” he said.

When asked what role should the [School Board] play in developing a vision and establishing long-range goals for the schools, Helton responded, “Well, the job of the board is two fold: 1. To have a vision, and 2. To make policy. That’s the job of the board, that’s not the job of me as a director... I’ll be glad to sit down and work with the board to come up with a vision, but you all have to come to an agreement on what that vision is going to be.”

One of the programs Helton spoke of implementing was a sick bank where teachers could donate their days to other teachers who have used their sick days for a serious illness. When asked about the new school, he said he had seen the budget and knew they could pay for it, but wondered if the budget covered the furnishings. When asked about teacher pay, he responded that the pay schedule needed to be consistent and teachers needed consistent raise scales.

In his closing statement, he thanked the board for the opportunity to speak and said he was not envious of their position due to the decision they were having to make.

Alan Trull

In his opening statement, Mr. Trull said he had taught, coached and had been a principal. He is currently the Supervisor of Student and Support Services for Lewis County Schools.

“Lewis County is distinct from any other school system in the state.. We have great kids. I first taught a private christian school.. and I was scared to death to walk through these doors, but after a week I realized we had just as good of kids here as we did in private school. And I knew I was in some place special,” said Mr. Trull. “I’m not interested in a Director’s job at any other place. I’m never going to apply for a job anywhere els, not in education. My home and my heart is right here.”

Mr. Trull focused on the progress that had already been made in the Lewis County School systems. He pointed out that there had been two reward schools, the High School and Middle School, and emphasized the importance of communication.

When asked about the new high school, he said he had been involved in the project with current Director of Schools Benny Pace so he felt comfortable taking the reigns. When asked about teacher pay he said that the insurance payment was high. “Let’s look and see if we can create [a better plan] together,” said Trull.

In his closing statement, Trull said, “I really do, truly and sincerely, appreciate you giving us this opportunity tonight. I know it wasn’t initially in the cards.. it’s water under the bridge. I do respect each of y’all and that is an honest truth. I think I speak for everyone in this room, if we are employees of this school system, we will do our dead level best to support whoever is sitting in this chair.. I pray everyday [for the person who gets this job].”

Brandi Feichtinger

In her opening statement, Mrs. Feichtinger stood up, faced the crowd and said, “For the past 24 years I have dedicated my life to educating students. These students have taught me... to notice each other, respect each other and love one another in unity is truly the makings of a joyful life and a joyful community.” She continued to talk about the history of Hohenwald and the school system.

She focused on working together and transparency. She talked about partnering with TCAT to get kids involved at a younger age, and seeing gifts in kids. She also pointed out a literacy program that could be applied to other schools. Mrs. Feichtinger is the current Middle School Principal.

When asked about the new school, she said she did not have experience but believed she was capable of managing it. When asked about teacher and insurance pay, she said “I’m all about teachers and how important they are. We’re doing well as far as teacher pay in our region. I feel that our insurance is good insurance. It could always be better, but we can’t pull money from an empty bucket.. So we all need to look at the budget.”

In her closing statement, Mrs. Feichtinger said “I know we’ve talked a lot about the issues a superintendent is responsible for.. I got go back to what makes a school work well and the bottom line is the kids.. I take all of this job’s responsibilities down to the smallest child all the way up to the budget.”