State superintendent finalists include heads of Jefferson County, Hoover schools

Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Craig Pouncey is one of four finalists to lead schools statewide. Photo courtesy of Jefferson County Schools.

The Alabama State Department of Education announced the four finalists for the state superintendent’s job, and the list includes two leaders of education in Jefferson County. Hoover City Schools Superintendent Kathy Murphy and Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Craig Pouncey are among the finalists for the position, along with former Jacksonville City Schools superintendent Eric Mackey and former Texas education commissioner Robert Scott.

The four finalists will interview for the position in Montgomery on the morning of Friday, April 20, with the board expected to make its final decision later that day.

Hoover City Schools Superintendent Kathy Murphy is one of four finalists for state superintendent. Photo courtesy of Hoover City Schools.

Pouncey has been superintendent of Jefferson County Schools since 2014. He had previously served as the state department of education’s director of finance, a deputy superintendent, and chief of staff. Last year, he was named the 2018 Superintendent of the Year by the School Superintendents of Alabama. In an interview with BirminghamWatch last month, Pouncey promised to “reform” the state department of education.

Murphy has been the superintendent of Hoover City Schools since 2015, and had previously been the superintendent of Monroe County schools, principal of Charles Henderson and Greenville High Schools and Greenville Middle School. The Hoover Sun has a video of Murphy’s reaction to the news — she is “thrilled” — which you can view here.