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Selma City Schools Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams has emerged as a Top 5 finalist to become Montgomery Public Schools Superintendent.

Dr. James Wright of the Alabama Association of School Boards made the announcement at a special called meeting Tuesday in Montgomery.

Williams, SCS Superintendent since 2017, is the only Alabama employer among the finalists. Williams responded to her being named a finalist.

“Being the superintendent in Selma has been the highlight of my career,” Williams said. “This community and our scholars give me life. In considering other opportunities, I want to be sure that I leave Selma better than I found it. We have moved from state intervention to performance excellence and I could not be more proud of the work of Team Selma.”

SCS Board President Johnny Moss Jr. had a positive reaction to the news of Williams’ possible departure.

“Dr. Williams has been an integral part of the success and culture change in the Selma City Schools over the last five years,” Moss said. “The Montgomery Public Schools System would gain an outstanding, energetic leader to lead their system.”

Here are the other four finalists:

-Dr. Melvin Brown – current superintendent at Reynoldsburg City Schools (Ohio).
-Dr. Anthony Lewis – current superintendent at Lawrence Public Schools (Kansas).
-Dr. Marla Sheppard – current Deputy Chief of Academics at KIPP Texas Public Schools (Texas).
-Dr. Donald Warren – current deputy superintendent at Griffin Spalding County Schools (Georgia).

According to MPS officials,  interviews will be held for each finalist. Those interviews will be held on March 28, March 29, March 31, April 4 and April 5. Each interview will be held at 6 p.m. at Carver High School.