Finalists Selected for New Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent

The Atlanta School Board announced this week that it has selected finalists to be the district’s next superintendent. There are plans to hire a new Atlanta Public Schools leader by this fall.

Three finalists were selected after board members conducted a series of interviews, the board said in a news release. Finalists met with a community panel on June 11 to discuss their qualifications and answer questions. The community panel then met with the school board to provide feedback on the candidates.

“The community panel heard a prepared presentation from each finalist and was able to ask direct questions. They then shared their feedback with the Atlanta School Board, which then met in executive session to further evaluate the candidates for superintendent,” the release said.

Now, however, there are apparently two finalists. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirmed that Gwinnett County Superintendent Calvin Watts was one of three finalists. The next day, Watts sent a letter saying he would remain at his post in Gwinnett.

A school board spokesperson said members could not comment on Watts.

“We are proud to remain transparent throughout this process and confident that it will enable the Atlanta Board of Education to select the leader best suited for APS students, teachers, staff and the community,” according to a press release from the board of directors.

“Per state law, we must continue to keep all names confidential until the process is complete in order to protect the anonymity of applicants and their current employment.”

The search for a new superintendent began last year after the board voted in June against renewing Dr. Lisa Herring’s contract. Herring served from July 1, 2020 to August 2023.

Last year, the school board hired Illinois-based Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates to conduct a national search.

The school board extended its search process in April after the candidates’ names were made public, a violation of the process because it is a personnel matter.