School Board Begins Process To Find New Superintendent

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The Fulton County School on Thursday announced that it is beginning the official search process for a permanent district leader.

Board members said the goal is to have a permanent replacement named and in place by next summer, Fulton County Schools said in a press release.

Former Superintendent Robert Avossa left his post in June to accept a new position in Palm Beach County, Florida. Fulton schools Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Kenneth Zeff was tapped to serve as interim superintendent.

School Board President Linda McCain said that waiting six months to announce the search was intentional “so that the school year could be started without the distraction of looking for a new leader,” according to the system’s press release.

“It was important to keep our focus on the smooth opening of the school year and the continued progress of our strategic plan,” said McCain. “We’re now at a time when the next step can occur. We’re closing in on the end of our five-year strategic plan and it’s critical that we determine a permanent superintendent so that this individual can be involved in the development of the next plan.”

The first step of the process begins with the creation of a leadership profile that takes multiple inputs and viewpoints into account.

Due to the district’s charter system status, all schools have, or are forming, local governance councils that are comprised of students, staff, parents and community/business leaders. Those entities will be asked to weigh in on what they believe to be the desired attributes of a superintendent.

School board members also will be soliciting input through community meetings, and a survey will be launched on the district’s website to provide an online forum for providing feedback.

As with the last superintendent search, the school board will manage the process through its attorney. Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP will solicit candidates meeting the leadership profile qualifications from a number of search firms as well as request applicants through national advertisements and notices to state and national school leadership associations, the system said.

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