Dr. Angela Mangum is enthusiastic about starting her new job as the Selma City Schools superintendent, and she plans to put some of that fire and passion to work.

Mangum, who was one of five candidates to take part in  public interviews last week with the Selma City School Board, accepted the superintendent job late Monday night. The board chose her over four other candidates, partly due to her experience.

She currently holds two positions. She serves as coordinators for LEAD Alabama, an evaluation system for educators, and the Principal Candidate Semester Residency, a program that focuses on improving schools by strengthening leadership. In the past, she’s also been a principal in the Montgomery Public School System, an adjunct professor at Alabama State University and chief academic officer for Montgomery Public Schools and the Alabama Department of Education.

She said all of those experiences have helped her reach her lifelong dream of being able to impact student learning and achievement at a district level.

“I’ve been reflecting on my previous experiences as a teacher, as an administrator and chief academic officer, as well as my experiences here at the state department,” Mangum said. “It all makes sense. Those experiences really helped prepare me to provide leadership and cohesion.”

Less than 24 hours after accepting the job, Mangum wasn’t sure Tuesday of when her start date will be with Selma City Schools. Selma City School Board attorney Katy Smith Campbell said at Monday night’s school board meeting that Mangum would have to talk with state department officials to find out when she would be released from her duties there.

However, she has already started planning for the future and what her first steps might be as superintendent.

She said she will immediately focus on building relationships with stakeholders in Selma.

“I need to spend a lot of time being present in meetings with the board, so that we can be really cohesive in what we need to do as a unit to move forward,” Mangum said. “I will be listening to principals, district staff members, teachers, students, community members and parents to really understand their perspectives of the educational process and what Selma city needs to do in order to move forward.”

In addition, Mangum will meet with the state intervention team to understand the work they’ve done in laying out plans for the future.

Her plans might involve meetings and handshakes, but Mangum has not forgotten the main goal of focusing on the children and parents of Selma City Schools.

“I plan on keeping the focus on student learning and their success,” Mangum said. “I really hope to increase the level of involvement among parents and families because I believe it takes a partnership to have a strong successful school system.”