14 apply for superintendent’s post

Russellville city school officials are one step closer to naming a new schools superintendent.

School board members opened 14 resumes Monday from candidates across the region.

The board is looking to replace current superintendent Don Cox, who will be leaving office in late March following 31 years in the system and the past two as superintendent. He also spent 15 years as the high school’s head football coach and assistant principal before being named the high school principal in 1995. He served as an administrative assistant in the central office from 2000 to 2008.

Board members indicated that they would form a committee within the next week or so to determine which three to five candidates to interview. They expect to have a two-week timeframe in which the interviews will be conducted.

The board expressed a desire to have a new superintendent in place when Cox leaves office.

Only two of the candidates are from the area. Former Russellville High School principal and current administrative assistant Rex Mayfield and former Belgreen and current Tishomingo County, Miss., principal Eddie Britton applied for the position.

Other candidates are:

• Brenda James Ford, a middle school principal in Conyers, Ga.

• John P. Wilcox, Tallapoosa County schools assistant superintendent

• Dr. James Waters, a principal in Huntsville

• Kevin Culpepper, Montgomery County public schools technology director

• Christopher Cook, Marion County schools testing coordinator

• Dr. Alan Miller, Eufaula city schools director of student services

• Jose Reyes, Jr., Benjamin Russell High School principal

• Dr. Pascual Mubenga, principal of Jones Senior High School in Trenton, N.C.

• Johnna Baker, Walker County schools director of English learners

• Martha Rizzuto, Tarrant City Schools superintendent

• Dr. Ronald Boykins, a former elementary principal in Georgia

• Jason Baker, principal of Ashville High School.