Shelby City Schools narrows list of candidates for superintendent to three
SHELBY — Three candidates remain in the search for the next Shelby City Schools superintendent.
After interviewing seven candidates over three days last week, the board of education has narrowed the list to Michael Browning, George Fisk and Chris Smith.
Board President Lorie White said members might be ready to vote on a replacement for Tim Tarvin at their April 24 meeting.
"It's one of the most important decisions we make," White said. "We're doing our due diligence. Tim's shoes are not easy to fill."
The final three candidates will be interviewed Tuesday and Wednesday in executive session.
The new superintendent will come from outside the district. Assistant Superintendent Paul Walker and middle school Principal Barb Green were interviewed last week but were not selected for the next round of interviews.
Tarvin, who has been Shelby's superintendent for the past 12 years and a district employee for three decades, announced earlier this year he would be retiring at the end of July.
Three remaining candidates from outside district
Browning is the high school principal for London City Schools, a position he has held the last five years.
"I have been involved with education since 2001, starting as a substitute teacher before becoming an intervention specialist on an emergency certification for a fourth-grade class in 2004," he wrote in his cover letter. "After that year, I began teaching high school social studies for five years before moving to middle school, where I taught eighth-grade history for 6½ years.
"It was then I began my administrative career at London City Schools, first as an assistant principal for 2½ years, before being elevated to the principalship for the past five years. What I have brought to all of the buildings and both school districts (Hamilton and London) is a passion for students and watching them succeed."
Fisk is the superintendent of Coventry Local Schools in Akron. Prior to that, he was superintendent of Norwalk City Schools from 2015-21. Fisk also served as superintendent of East Palestine from 2012-15.
"Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work collaboratively with a number of communities who have consistently shown their dedication to and support for every facet of education," he wrote in his cover letter. "Public schools are the foundation of our communities, and we must continuously work to provide an excellent global educational experience for all students."
Smith has been the high school principal for Ontario Local Schools since 2012. From 2009-12, he was assistant high school principal there. Smith also spent 12 years as a teacher at Bucyrus High School.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my educational journey, and I believe the culmination of my experiences and relationships have given me the skill set to guide the Shelby City Schools district," he wrote in his cover letter. "The role of the superintendent continues to evolve, but those that have the ability to build relationships and a positive school culture while maintaining a high level of expectation find themselves able to lead a district that prepares students for their future in an ever-changing world."
mcaudill@gannett.com
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Twitter: @MNJCaudill
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Board of education to interview 3 candidates for Shelby superintendent
