The Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education named four finalists and two alternative finalists at a meeting tonight. The finalists are Tony Amato, former New Orleans Public Schools superintendent; David Barbosa, superintendent for the Grand Prarie (Texas) Independent School District; Sonia Diaz, former superintendent of the Bridgeport (Connecticut) Public Schools; and William Harner, principal of Gainesville Middle School in Gainseville, Ga.
The alternate finalists, should any of the finalists drop out, are Joan Kowal, Florida’s Nova Southeastern University Superintendent in Residence; and Chip Zullinger, former Manassas (Va.) City Schools Superintendent.
That cut the list from eight to six, essentially.
Principals were unhappy. Four spoke to the board to share their belief that they have been left out of the process. When board members tried to explain how they would be involved from this point forward, some 25 principals walked out as a group in protest.
There’s much more to this story. Come back tomorrow for more.