By Haley Mitchell Godwin

The Crenshaw County Board of Education (CCBOE) has been working through the process of selecting a new superintendent. Over the past several weeks, the board held three work sessions to interview candidates and assess their qualifications, narrowing down the pool of candidates..

The first work session took place on Jan. 28 at 5:30 p.m. when Dr. John D. Strycker and Dr. Kenyon Barron were interviewed. A second session followed on Feb. 3 at 5:30 p.m., when the school board considered Doug Bailey and Ashley Catrett for the position. 

The Board reconvened on Feb. 6 at 5 p.m. to deliberate and narrow the field down to two candidates who will undergo a final round of interviews in the near future. The group has not yet released information on who their top two candidates are.

The four individuals vying for the superintendent position brought diverse experiences and qualifications to the table:

• Douglas Bailey currently serves as director of operations for Crenshaw County Schools. He has previously worked as a mathematics teacher, assistant principal and athletic director at Highland Home School.
• Dr. Ken M. Barron is the current Superintendent of Yazoo County School Board in Mississippi, a role he has held since 2018. He has served as a teacher, coach and a principal in Mississippi since 1995. 
• Ashley Catrett has been with Crenshaw County Schools since 2006 and currently serves as the director of several programs including career and technical education, guidance and counseling, school health/nurses, library media and accountability. She has also been principal and assistant principal at Brantley School.
• Dr. John Strycker hails from Missouri City, Texas and has worked in education for 33 years. His past roles include superintendent positions in Jackson County, Mississippi, and Butler County. He currently serves as vice president of Fueling Brains, Inc.

Throughout the evaluation process, the board has focused on ensuring that the future superintendent displays certain specified strengths and that they address particular concerns during candidate evaluations. 

“During my thought process regarding our future superintendent, I thought about when my mother was going through cancer treatment,” said board chairperson Sherri Claybrook. “I had taken her to one of her first doctor’s visits and my dad tagged along. When we were listening to the doctor, it was like I heard one thing, my mom keyed in more on other things the doctor said and then my dad locked in on information the doctor said that I did not recall. So, I think it is important that the five of us share with each other what we took away from each of these interviews.”

Candidates impressed the five member board with their diverse experiences, displaying various sought after characteristics including relationship-driven approaches, emphasis on daily interaction with students and staff, as well as strong communication between all entities involved in the education process in Crenshaw County Public Schools. 

One candidate proposed input from teachers via anonymous surveys, allowing educators to more clearly share their perspectives on the needs of the school system.

During discussions, board member Forrest Albritton noted that while one of the finalists has never served as a superintendent before, they could still prove to be a strong leader despite the learning curve.

“All four really are good choices and have great qualities and potential,” said Albritton. “We have to really think about which one would be the best fit for Crenshaw County Schools, the best candidate for our students.”

The Board remains committed to selecting a leader who will prioritize academic excellence and the well-being of students across the district, and they invite community members, educators and all stakeholders to stay informed as the selection process continues by attending future CCBOE meetings.