Who will be Harris County School District’s next superintendent? One finalist emerges
The Harris County School District board has narrowed the search for its next superintendent to one candidate — who already works for HCSD.
The board announced Justin Finney as the finalist to succeed Roger Couch, who has been HCSD superintendent for six years and plans to retire at the end of this school year.
Finney has been HCSD’s assistant superintendent for business services and technology for the past six years. He has 24 years of experience in public education, including as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal.
With help from Georgia-based superintendent search consulting firm King-Cooper and Associates, the board selected Finney from 18 applicants during the past five months, according to its news release. State law requires the board to wait at least 14 days after the finalist announcement before voting on Finney to be superintendent.
Justin Finney’s background
Finney started his education career in Muscogee County in 2001 as a teacher and coach at Rothschild Middle School. He taught at Columbus State University from 2004-07 then was assistant principal at Harris County Carver Middle School from 2007-10 and principal of Mulberry Creek Elementary School from 2010-18.
While working for HCSD, Finney has taught part-time at CSU and Piedmont University.
Finney earned all of his college degrees from CSU, including his bachelor’s in social studies education, master’s and specialist’s degrees, and a doctorate in curriculum and education leadership.
He attended the Georgia School Superintendents Association training programs for facilities, human resources and budgeting. He also completed the Superintendent Professional Development Program, a two-year course for aspiring superintendents.
“We are delighted to have someone of Dr. Finney’s experience and ability to be our next superintendent,” HCSD board chairman Garnett Ray said in the news release. “He has been a committed and loyal employee of Harris County schools. We have had a very deliberate and thorough search process, and I appreciate how well the board has worked together through the search process.”
The Ledger-Enquirer didn’t reach Finney for comment before publication.
