Dr. Danielle Judkins Collins has been selected by the Board of Education to become the interim Director of Schools.
During a special called meeting Thursday night, the Board voted 5-2 naming Dr. Collins to succeed Mark Willoughby until a new director is under contract. Dr. Collins, who has served as Federal Programs Supervisor for the school system since February 2008 will keep that position while also serving as interim director. In addition to her regular pay, Dr. Collins will receive a $2,000 per month supplement for her new assignment.
Board members Jerry Wayne Johnson and Danny Parkerson voted against Dr. Collins being named interim director. Both Johnson and Parkerson told WJLE after the meeting that they were not opposed to Dr. Collins personally but felt that no one should be named interim director who might apply when the board conduct’s its search for a new director because it could give that person an unfair advantage over other applicants.
Dr. Collins told WJLE after the meeting that while she is happy to serve on an interim basis, she is undecided on whether to apply for the position long term.
(VIEW VIDEO OF SPECIAL CALLED SCHOOL BOARD MEETING THURSDAY NIGHT TO NAME INTERIM DIRECTOR)
While the board members have not yet adopted a process for conducting a director search, board policy gives them the option of allowing an interim to be a candidate. “An interim director of schools appointed during the time of a search shall not become a candidate unless the Board expressly permits such inclusion in the selection procedures. A board member may not apply for or in any other way be considered for the position of director of schools,” the board policy states.
(VIEW VIDEO OF REGULAR MONTHLY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING THURSDAY NIGHT BELOW)
The policy goes on to say that the Board must develop a procedure for selecting a new director before it begins the search. “Prior to conducting a search to fill the position, the Board shall initially develop the following:
* A job description
* A timeline
* A process for accepting and reviewing applications
* Selection procedures
Prior to becoming Federal Programs Supervisor, Dr. Collins was a 4th grade classroom teacher at Northside Elementary School from August 2000 to February 2008.
Dr. Collins graduated from MTSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education K-8 in December 1999. She earned a Master of Arts Education degree in Instructional Leadership from Tennessee Tech University in May 2002. In August 2003, Dr. Collins earned her Ed.S degree in Instructional Leadership from Tennessee Tech. She obtained an Ed. D Education degree in Administration and Supervision from Tennessee State University in May 2007.
Among her many professional accomplishments, Dr. Collins has served as an Adjunct Professor at Tennessee Tech since January 2013.
Meanwhile, during the regular meeting which followed the special meeting Thursday night, a director of school’s monthly personnel report was given by Board Chairman W.J. (Dub) Evins, III.
Those employed since last month are Alyssa Conger, Speech Pathologist and Roy Merriman, Bus Driver. John Ethan Hale was named a substitute. LeVaughnda Midgett, a teacher at Smithville Elementary School, was granted a leave as requested and Jimmy Poss was transferred from a substitute to full time bus driver.