Friday, November 23, 2001 |
Board tabs Connell as superintendent finalist The Coweta County Board of Education announced Dr. Peggy H. Connell as the finalist for the position of Superintendent of Coweta County Schools, during a community hearing last Friday. Dr. Connell has 27 years of proven leadership in public education, including the past five years as successful superintendent for the 8,000 students Talladega County School System in Alabama. Other professional experience highlights include serving as a high school principal and Director of Instruction. Dr. Connell has experience working in both large and smaller school districts, including supervising staff development for 2,800 teachers in the Birmingham Public School System. As Superintendent of Talladega County Schools, Dr. Connell has distinguished herself with a variety of accomplishments, including successfully developing and implementing a five year capital improvement plan which included construction of a new high school, two new elementary schools, and major renovations to seven other schools, facilitating three successful tax referendums in three years, restructuring curriculum throughout the school district. She also led efforts in developing a strong internal leadership development program, obtaining over $1 million in grants in technology initiatives, and during her tenure, Talladega County became one of only four school systems in the United States to receive a Cornerstone Literacy Project grant valued at over $4 million. She is recipient of the Outstanding Educational Leadership Award given by the Alabama Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, one of only three Superintendents in Alabama selected to participate in the BellSouth/Center of Leadership in School Reform, and is this year's Outstanding Distinguished Professional for the Girl Scouts of Cottaquilla Council. As the Board of Education launched its search, they focused on a leader who had a demonstrated ability to communicate and implement the mission and vision of a school district and a strong decision-maker to lead the rapidly growing Coweta County School System. The Board concluded that Dr. Connell met and exceeded these requirements. She brings proven expertise in instructional leadership, finance, technology, and strategic planning to the community. Just as important, the Board believes that she can properly focus the resources of the school district on raising all students to grade level and pushing students who excel to higher levels of performance. During the search process, the Coweta County Board of Education considered over 50 potential candidates from 27 states who represented a diverse group of professional educators, business people, and career military. The search included extensive interviews of a number of candidates and concluded with the board focusing on a single leading candidate, Dr. Connell. As required by state law, the finalist is being publicly announced for public consideration on November 16. At the conclusion of a 14-day public comment period, the Coweta County Board of Education and Dr. Connell both hope that the community will support her candidacy and that she can assume her new role in 2002.
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