As selection of the new MPS superintendent nears, here's a look at the final candidates

Note to readers: Montgomery Public Schools announced Wednesday they would announce the next superintendent at a special meeting Friday at 11 a.m. at the Montgomery County Board of Education auditorium. Here's a look at what the candidates said during their interviews.

On their "interview day," each superintendent candidate took turns talking with various board members. They visit schools and, in the afternoon, they attend a session hosted by the Chamber of Commerce at the Lab on Dexter to meet with community leaders. After that, they visit the central office. In the evening, they go to their interview at George Washington Carver High School, where the school board members ask questions in turn. Community members sit in the audience and observe.

Previous coverage: Montgomery Public Schools releases names of 5 superintendent finalists

Related: MPS superintendent finalist Avis Williams takes top job in New Orleans

At the interview, all superintendent candidates were asked the same questions. Clare Weil, District 2 and School Board president, explained that was to ensure that it was fair.

Weil said that all of the board members selected their question from a list. At the end, candidates were allowed to have final comments and ask any questions.

The questions asked by the School Board included the candidates’ experience with fiscal management, how they saw their first 100 days, how they would work to make a smooth transition and how they held teachers accountable while also understanding demands put on teachers.

The Board has asked for a start date of June 1, so that the new superintendent can work with outgoing superintendent Dr. Ann Roy Moore for a transition period of 30 days.

Melvin Brown

Dr. Melvin Brown is the superintendent of Reynoldsburg City Schools, Ohio.

Brown has previous experience as a visiting professor at Ohio State University, deputy superintendent at Cuyahoga Falls City Schools, director of human resources at Cuyahoga Falls City Schools, regional vice president at Mosaica Education, Inc., Associate Director of ROSworks, LLC, principal at Spotsylvania County Public Schools, associate superintendent at Prince William County Public Schools and principal/ supervisor of multicultural education at Prince William County Public Schools. His education includes a Doctorate from the Ohio State University in Educational Studies, Master's at Virginia Commonwealth University in Education Administration and Bachelor's from James Madison University in English.

Throughout the day, Brown returned to the theme of equity.

At the Chamber of Commerce Event, Brown spoke about equity issues at his own school and how they might proceed going forward. He recounted an event at his school where the gifted middle kids were all sent to a separate school. They struggled when they returned to the traditional schools, so he eliminated the separate school and had them attend programs in their zoned schools.

Brown also mentioned that he was interested in having committees made up of students and teachers to better understand feedback.

Anthony Lewis

Dr. Anthony Lewis is the superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools Board of Education, Kansas.

As previous experience, Lewis was assistant superintendent at Kansas City Public Schools, director of elementary education — school leadership at Kansas City Public Schools, elementary principal at Montgomery Public Schools and high school special education/ science teacher at Montgomery Public Schools. His education includes a Doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia in educational leadership and policy analysis, a Master's from Alabama State University in education administration, a Master's from Alabama State University in special education and a Bachelor's from Alabama State University in special education.

For Lewis, one of the recurring themes of the day was the concept of returning home. Lewis began his career in Montgomery. When Lesa Keith, School Board Member District 1, asked him a question, Lewis said that Keith was his wife’s favorite teacher when she was a student there. Keith asked him to reintroduce them after the event.

Lewis mentioned his experience in Montgomery often, bringing up his history with E.D. Nixon Elementary School. A school that had been on the brink of state intervention before the school was turned around to become a Torchbearer school. Torchbearer schools are defined as high poverty, high-performing schools by the Alabama State Department of Education.

After the interview, many people in the audience came up to the stage and spoke with him. Lewis seemed to have the greatest turnout of community members for his interview.

Marla Sheppard

Dr. Marla Sheppard is the Deputy Chief of Academics at KIPP Public Schools Board of Education, Texas. KIPP Public Schools is a charter school.

Sheppard’s previous experience includes being Deputy superintendent at Kansas City Public Schools, assistant superintendent at Fort Bend Independent School District and high school turnaround principal at Houston Independent School District. Her education includes a Doctorate from the University of Houston in professional leadership, a Master's from the University of Houston in educational leadership and a Bachelor's from Texas A&M University.

At the event at the Chamber and the interview later that night, Sheppard made the point that she’s not from Alabama, but that she came as fast as she could. Keith smiled when she said that line during the interview.

Sheppard identified herself as a Texas native but said that Montgomery was the “cradle of civil rights.”

In the interview, Keith asked Sheppard to explain a response that she had earlier. Sheppard had called principles the “core of our district,” and Keith asked what that meant: were teachers hired solely by the principal or by committee? Sheppard elaborated that teachers would be hired by committee — not just by the principal, and Keith replied that was a “good answer.”

Donald Warren

Dr. Donald Warren is the deputy superintendent at Griffin-Spalding County Schools Board of Education, Georgia

His previous experience is being Interim superintendent and executive director at Griffin-Spalding County Schools, executive director of secondary education at Griffin-Spalding County Schools, director of curriculum and instruction at Henry County Schools, middle school principal at Houston County Schools, assistant middle school principal at Houston County Schools and math teacher at Houston County Schools. He holds a Doctorate from the University of Georgia in educational leadership, a Specialist from the University of Georgia in education leadership, a Master's from Georgia College & State University in educational administration & supervision and a Bachelor's from Georgia Southwestern State University.

Warren connected his experience from working in Georgia to the issues facing Montgomery Public Schools. In discussions around career technical education, Warren mentioned that his schools had aviation training, connecting that experience to working in a community so close to Maxwell Air Force Base. Keith went back to clarify that statement, mentioning that it was something they would be interested in.

Warren also brought up the idea of the need for retention. He mentioned that he had previously spoken with high school dropouts to understand why they left and what might have kept them in school. He said that he would bring this experience and recreate the idea for Montgomery Public Schools should he be selected.

All interviews can now be viewed on the Montgomery Public Schools’ YouTube channel.

Jemma Stephenson is the children and education reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser. She can be reached at jstephenson@gannett.com or 334-261-1569.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: MPS superintendent candidates completed their interviews