Elaine Farris Finalist for Clark County Top Spot

As the first African American Superintendent in Kentucky Elaine Farris is an historic figure. But as Interim Education Commissioner, she agreed not to pursue the permanent position, leaving the board of education unencumbered in its search for the next Commish.

When the superintendency in her home county opened last December, Farris spoke to KSN&C off the record; so we couldn't say anything. Now that Clark County has named her as a finalist its hard to imagine a more qualified candidate.

In fact, one needn't imagine. The Winchester Sun reports:

Five candidates picked for superintendent

The finalists for the Clark County school superintendent position include the state’s interim education commissioner, the district’s operations director and a former principal of Fannie Bush Elementary.

The five finalists were announced Thursday, before the first interview this evening with Paul Christy, the district’s operations director. The other four finalists will be interviewed by the board members next week.

The board has been gearing up for the search process since Superintendent Ed Musgrove announced his resignation in December after three years leading the district.

The initial advertisement of the open position garnered 21 applicants, which a screening committee of school officials, district employees and a parent representative whittled down to five recommendations to the board members. The board then invited the five finalists to interview.

“Hopefully, we’ll have a great decision when we come out of this,” board chair Judy Hicks said. The board hopes to have a superintendent hired by mid-April...

The finalists are:

Elaine Farris: appointed interim education commissioner in January after Commissioner Jon Draud resigned due to health concerns. She was also superintendent of Shelby County’s school system for four years. Farris started as a physical education teacher at Odell Gross Elementary in 1982, before moving to George Rogers Clark High School in 1989. In 1993, she became an assistant principal at GRC. She spent three years as principal of Shearer Elementary before becoming elementary school director for the Fayette County District. (In the interest of full disclosure, Elaine and I worked together in Fayette County. She has been my boss, my student and my colleague. She understands leadership and working with people. Any district would be fortunate to sign her.)

Paul Christy: has worked in Clark County since June 2006 and is responsible for the district’s
transportation, maintenance, staffing allocations, district athletics and purchasing; Served as principal of Frankfort Independent High School for two years, was assistant principal at Franklin County High School for a year prior to that and was principal at Bath County High School for five years. His educational career started as a technology education teacher at Bath County High School.

Lisa Stone: "is presently the education leader" (sic) for the Kentucky Association of School Councils. She taught in Clay County; worked in Clark County for 11 years before becoming principal of Fannie Bush Elementary in 1990. In 1994, she started working in Fayette County as principal at Rosa Parks Elementary and as an elementary school director. (In the interest of full disclosure, Lisa and I worked together in Fayette County.)

Donald F. Aldridge: Superintendent of Eminence Independent School District for three years, following seven years as assistant principal and principal in Estill and Lee counties. He began as a math teacher in Irvine in 1994, according to his resume.

Stephen Dickerson of North Vernon, Ind.: The only out-of-state finalist. He is the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for the Jennings County, Ind., school district since February 2000. He spent 17 years as a high school principal between three Indiana schools as well as three years as an assistant principal and athletic director. He also spent seven years as a science teacher and coach in Indiana

The State Journal's take:

Interim education chief applies for new job

Interim Education Commissioner Elaine Farris is a finalist for a job as school superintendent in Clark County.

The Winchester Sun reports that Farris and four others are being considered for the position in the central Kentucky district of 6,000 students.

Clark County Superintendent Ed Musgrove announced his resignation in December 2008, effective June 30.

If Farris were to leave her post as interim commissioner before a commissioner is hired, the Kentucky Board of Education would name another interim, said Lisa Gross, director of communications for the Kentucky Department of Education.

Farris, deputy education commissioner for the Bureau of Learning and Results Services, was named interim education commissioner in January. Her duties overseeing the state's public education system began Feb. 1...

Gross said Farris, a native of Clark County, notified the Board of Education early on that she would apply for the position if it came open.

"We are not concerned," Gross said. "We support her in whatever endeavor she wants to take."