Search for School Superintendent down to Three Candidates

The race to become the new Avoyelles Parish School District Superintendent of Schools is down to three candidates. And for the first time known to current board members and staff, the highest seat in the school system will be filled by someone without any ties to Avoyelles. It will also be the first superintendent who is of a minority race and/or a woman.

The Avoyelles Parish School Board will now choose between Dr. Curt Green, a Mississippi Department of Education school improvement coach; Grambling State University Curriculum & Instruction Department Head Dr. Cheyrl Ensley; and educational consultant and retired Pontotoc, Miss., Superintendent Karen Tutor.

School Board President Stanley Celestine Jr. sees this an opportunity to move parish schools in a positive direction. “The Avoyelles Parish School Board had an extensive search for candidates who represent the system’s relentless commitment to children, to Avoyelles Parish, and to equity. We acknowledge that our parish is talent-rich and in previous superintendent searches we have been able to find leaders within our system or those with ties throughout Avoyelles,” he said.

Interviews of the seven original applicants were held during the week of July 28 with board members. From those interviews, the top three were chosen.

More on this story can be found in today's edition of the Avoyelles Journal.