CULLMAN – The Cullman City Board of Education announced in their special called board meeting the timeline for selecting the next superintendent. The superintendent vacancy will be posted beginning September 1, 2015 and remain posted for 30 days as required by Alabama law. Steve Sides, Board president, stated, “That under Alabama law we as a board have to meet within 90 days of the vacancy to announce the process and timeline for posting and selecting the superintendent.”
The board selected Dr. Susan Patterson to serve as Interim Superintendent upon Dr. Doreen Griffeth's resignation on June 4, 2015. The Interim contract was for up to 180 days per Alabama law to serve as Interim Superintendent. The board will accept applications through September 30, 2015 and may select the superintendent after the posting requirement is met and they have reviewed applications. “Dr. Patterson has stepped into the role of Interim Superintendent and successfully led our system in meeting what we as a board set as goals in June. Her leadership has seen our school system have a great start to the school year, begin the process of establishing a five-year strategic plan, and lead the final efforts in revising our board policies to bring them current with state law,” said Sides.
Cullman City Schools is proud to have completed the building process on the Cullman High campus, deployed iPads to all high school students, updated the laptop initiative at Cullman Middle School, and made necessary renovations to our K-6 campuses over the summer. “It has been a busy three months for all of us. The work of our administrators, teachers, and support staff during this time shows their commitment to the students of Cullman City Schools, and the leadership of Dr. Patterson as our Interim Superintendent has been vital to see all the parts come together,” added Sides. Cullman City Schools look to find in its next superintendent the leadership qualities that have been displayed during the last three months.
Sides noted, “We will be looking for a leader who is visionary, possesses the abilities to lead effectively in a 21st century learning environment, and demonstrates the decision-making skills needed to serve in the best interest of students.” The Board will look to ensure a smooth transition as it moves to select a superintendent within the coming months. “Cullman City Schools is a premier system in our state, having always been highly successful in both, academics and extracurriculars. The future of our school system and the importance it plays in our city will be shaped by our strategic plan and the selection of our superintendent. We can’t thank Dr. Patterson enough for her current leadership,” Sides commented on behalf of the board.
