The five finalists for the Selma City Schools superintendent position were named Friday night at a special called board meeting. The board members selected their top five and those candidates will go through an interview process starting this afternoon.

“We’re excited to get the process started,” said board president Johnny Moss.

“We just wanted someone who can come in with some experience and can move the system forward.”

The five finalists are D. Ray Hill, Ed.D, Regina D. Thompson, Ed.D, Arthur L. Capers, Ed.S, Avis Williams, Ed.D and Robert A. Griffin, Ed.D.

Hill is from Snellville, Georgia and has most recently served as the educational consultant, senior program associate for BRP Associates in Stockbridge, Georgia. Before his time there, he served as the superintendent of the Macon County School System in Oglethorpe, Georgia from 2014 until December of 2016.

Before being selected as a superintendent, Hill served as a principal and assistant principal dating back to 1996.

Hill has a doctor of education, master of arts, certification in administration and supervision, a division superintendent license and a bachelor of science.

Thompson is from Columbia, South Carolina and serves as the executive director of Dimensional Leadership in Columbia. Thompson spent time as the chief of teaching and learning for the Richland County School District One from 2012 until 2017 and was the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in the Kansas City Public School system before.

Thompson has served as a principal, assistant and adjunct professor, director of curriculum and instruction and transformation specialist and as the interim deputy superintendent of the Montgomery County Schools prior to her position in Kansas. She has bachelors in elementary education, masters in educational administration, a specialist degree in educational administration and a doctor of education in educational administration.

Capers is from Selma and is currently serving as the interim superintendent for the Selma City School System.

Capers was the coordinator of student services for the school system prior to being named interim superintendent, and has worked in human resources and as a principal, assistant principal, teacher and bus driver in the system. He has also worked as a paralegal and bus driver in another school system. Capers has a doctor of education, an education specialist degree, a master of education, bachelor of science in elementary education and a bachelor of science in secondary education.

Williams is from Tuscaloosa and is currently the assistant superintendent for the Tuscaloosa City School System. Before her current position, Williams was the executive director of secondary curriculum and instruction in the Guilford County School System in Greensboro, North Carolina. She has also served as a principal, assistant principal, teacher, adjunct instructor and coach since beginning her career in 1989.

Williams has a doctor of education, educational specialist degree, administrative certificate, master of science in physical education and Alabama teaching certificate in physical education. Williams also served in the military from 1987-1991.

Robert A. Griffin is from Selma and served as the superintendent of the Demopolis City School System from 2010-2015. Before his time there, he was a principal at Goshen High School. Griffin has also served as a principal and career technical director, alternative school administrator, career technical educational department head, teacher, interim headmaster and coach.

Griffin attended a superintendent’s academy, has a doctor of education in educational administration, an educational specialist degree, master’s of science and bachelor’s of science.

The candidates will go on tours of some of the school, have a public reception and then a public interview over the next few days.

All of the receptions and interviews will take place at the Selma High School auditorium.

Hill and Williams will have a reception tonight from 4:30-5:15 p.m. Hill’s interview will be from 5:30-6:45 p.m. and Williams’ interview will be from 7-8:15 p.m.

Capers and Griffin will have a reception from 4:30-5:15 p.m. Wednesday and Capers is scheduled for his interview from 5:30-6:45 p.m. and Griffin will follow from 7-8:15 p.m. 

Thompson will have a reception Thursday from 4:30-5:15 p.m. and will begin her interview at 5:30 p.m.

Moss said is he hoping for community support and attendance as the board interviews the potential superintendents.

“We just want the community to come out and support the school system as we pick our next superintendent,” Moss said. “It will be a good time to see what they’re all about.”

Moss said they plan to announce the new superintendent at a board meeting in September.