Six Seek to Become Next Director of Schools

Six persons have submitted applications and or resumes seeking the Director of Schools position in DeKalb County.
The Board of Education voted on May 14 to post a notice on the school system’s website seeking applications for the position from May 15 through June 15. The deadline for filing applications was the close of business Monday.
Two of the six applicants are local and currently employed by the school system including DCHS Principal Patrick Cripps and Gina Arnold, who is the Supervisor of Special Education. The other four are Anthony D. Pack of Macon, Georgia; Michael James Steele of Spring Hill, Tennessee; Greg Rockhold of Hobbs, New Mexico; and Richard Ronald Rundhaug of Willcox, Arizona.
The Board must now decide the next step to take in the selection process. According to the policy, the board must develop selection procedures which shall include, but not be limited to the following:
Resumes of persons interviewed by the Board shall be available in the central office for public inspection.
The interview process for each finalist shall include meetings with various staff and community groups and an interview with the entire board.
Candidates shall be interviewed by the Board in an open session. Only board members will be allowed to ask questions during the interview.
The Board will attempt to select a director by unanimous vote, but a majority of the membership of the Board shall be required for the appointment of a director of schools.
In the event of an emergency vacancy in the office of the director, the Board may expedite this process.
The following is a brief summary of each applicant’s educational background and experience as an educator
*Patrick Cripps received a BS degree from Tennessee Tech University in the fall of 1995 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. In the fall of 1999, Cripps earned an MA in Educational Psychology and Counselor Education at Tennessee Tech. During the summer of 2004, Cripps received his Ed.S degree in Instructional Leadership at Tennessee Tech.
Cripps has served as Principal at DCHS since 2012. He began his education career in DeKalb County as a Safe Schools Counselor in 1997. Two years later, Cripps was named a School Counselor at DCHS. In 2005, Cripps moved up to becoming an Assistant Principal at DCHS, a position he held until being named Principal.
*Gina Arnold obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education at Tennessee Tech University in August, 1992. In May 2000 Arnold earned her Master of Arts degree from Tennessee Tech with a major in Curriculum and Instruction and a minor in Early Childhood Special Education PreK-2. Arnold then received her Education Specialist degree in Instructional Leadership in August 2005 at Tennessee Tech.
Arnold became a Special Education Teacher at Smithville Elementary School in 1992 and was transferred to Northside Elementary School in 2000 where she served as a Special Education CDC Teacher. In 2005, Arnold was promoted to Special Education Supervisor, a position she still holds.
* Anthony D. Pack received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1990 from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia in Middle Grades Education with Concentrations in Language Arts, Math, and Science. Pack received his Master of Education in Administration and Supervision of Schools from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia in 1996. He earned his Education Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Argosy University in Sarasota, Florida in 2005.
Pack currently serves as Superintendent of Schools for the Monroe County Board of Education in Forsyth, Georgia, a position he has held since 2008. Prior to that, Pack served two years as Superintendent of Schools for the Kent County Board of Education in Rock Hall, Maryland.
*Michael James Steele received his B.A. degree in Psychology at Columbia College in 1996. Two years later, Steele earned an M.S. degree in Psychology/Counseling at Troy University. In 2014, he obtained his Ed.D. in Education at Lipscomb University.
Since 2010 Steele has held the position of Executive Principal for Stratford STEM High School. He began his career in 2006 as a Guidance Counselor in Madison, Florida. A year later Steele was named Assistant Principal at Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville, Florida. In 2008, Steele became a Middle School Principal before taking the job he currently holds.
*Greg Rockhold received his Bachelor of Science degree with minors in Business Administration and Marketing from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico. He later earned his Masters of Education in General Education at Eastern New Mexico University. Rockhold then obtained a Ph.D with an emphasis in Educational Leadership at Trinity Southwest University in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Rockhold currently serves as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Heizer Middle School in Hobbs, New Mexico, a position he has held for one year. He was founding Principal at Humes Preparatory Academy Elementary School at Memphis in 2013. Prior to that, Rockhold was Principal at a Middle School in Shiprock, New Mexico for one year in 2012.
*Richard Ronald Rundhaug earned his BA in Elementary Education at Hope International University in 1990. Seven years later, he obtained his M.Ed in School Administration at Northern Arizona University. In 1999, Rundhaug received an MBA in Business Administration at Webster University. He then earned his Ph.D in Leadership for K-12 at Capella University.
Rundhaug served as Superintendent of the Willcox Unified School District in Willcox, Arizona from 2008 to 2014. Prior to that, he held the position of Assistant Superintendent of the Coolidge Unified Schools District in Coolidge, Arizona.
The Board of Education will meet Thursday, June 18 at 6:30 p.m. in a work session at the Board of Education Building.