From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
MONTGOMERY –The Alabama State Department of Education board has narrowed the search for a new state school superintendent to four people which includes two candidates from the metro Birmingham area.
Craig Pouncey, superintendent of Jefferson County Schools and Kathy Murphy, superintendent of Hoover City Schools join Eric Mackey, Executive Director of the School Superintendents of Alabama, and Robert Scott who formerly served as chief of Texas schools, as finalists for the state’s top spot.
Pouncey was one of two finalists in 2016 when ALSDE chose Michael Sentance as state superintendent. Sentance resigned from the position in less than one year under pressure from some state BOE members.
Pouncey has filed a lawsuit against five people, including ALSDE board member Mary Scott Hunter, alleging they conspired to block him from the job. A judge has since removed three defendants from the suit, but Hunter remains as a defendant.
The state board will interview candidates on April 20 before voting on a new superintendent on that day.