Opp Superintendent of Education Michael Smithart is among the finalists for the School Superintendents of Alabama (SSA) and Classworks’ finalists for the Alabama/Classworks 2019 Superintendent of the Year.

Other finalists include: from District 1, Mr. Eddie Tyler, Baldwin County; District 2, Dr. Timothy Thurman, Linden City; District 4, Mr. Randy Wilkes, Phenix City; District 5, Dr. Kathy Murphy, Hoover City; District 6, Dr. Michael Barber, Pell City; District 7, Dr. Ann Jackson, Jasper City; District 8, Dr. Bill Hopkins, Jr., Morgan County, and District 9, Mr. Rodney Green, Blount County.

The statewide judging of Alabama’s finalists and also the announcement of the Alabama/Classworks 2019 Superintendent of the Year will occur during the SSA Fall Conference in Florence, AL. The Alabama/Classworks Superintendent of the Year will then be honored at a luncheon sponsored by Classworks on March 5, 2019, held during SSA’s Legislative Conference in Montgomery. Classworks will provide Alabama’s winner with a Superintendent of the Year ring and travel expenses to the AASA National Conference on Education, February 14-16, 2019, in Los Angeles. At the National

Conference, Alabama’s winner will receive a bronze medallion with the Superintendent of the Year emblem on it and a plaque from AASA – The School Superintendents Association, SSA’s national affiliate and sponsor of this program. Each state’s winner will be recognized during the AASA National Conference where the national winner for 2019 will be announced.

Nominations for this award were submitted from each of SSA’s nine districts. The state winner will be determined based on his or her career achievements and success in advancing public education.

School Superintendents of Alabama (SSA) represents superintendents and school system leaders around the state, providing a leading voice in sound public policy development and advocacy; quality professional learning opportunities; and meaningful collaboration and networking.