By Hugh G. Willett knoxnews.com
LOUDON - The Loudon County board of education voted
unanimously Monday to select Jason Vance as the new director of
schools.Vance, assistant schools director
in Loudon, was the clear choice after a single round of voting in
which the two leading candidates were selected. The board
interviewed five candidates for the job Friday.
Board member Richard Best made the motion to move
to a final decision after Vance received one vote from each board
member in the first round.
Dr. Gerald Miller, principal at Nolachuckey School
in Greene County, was second in the balloting.
Miller received five votes in the first round of
voting.
"This is the first time in a long time that the
board has voted unanimously on a serious matter," said board
Chairman Scott Newman.
Other board members praised Vance for his
leadership and agreed that the unanimous vote was an important
milestone for a board that has often been divided.
"I really think Jason is going to be able to bring
this board together," said board member Lisa Russell.
Board member Craig Simon said he was impressed
with Vance has worked on difficult issues such as the school
building program.
"He doesn't shy away from the tough issues, and he
doesn't fold under pressure," Simon said.
Best, himself a career educator, said he was
impressed with Vance's knowledge of the academic challenges facing
the school system.
"He really did a stellar job during the interview
process," Best said.
Vance, 34, holds an education specialist degree
and a master's in instructional leadership from Tennessee
Technological University.
A former principal at Loudon Elementary School,
Vance has served as assistant director since 2009.
Educating the children of Loudon County will be
his first priority, Vance said.
"That's really the most important part of this
job," he said.
Not far down the list of his priorities will be
the school budget and the long-awaited school building program, he
said.
Newman said that Vance will be presented to the
public at a "meet and greet" scheduled for 6 p.m. April 29, at the
Technical Center on Harrison Road.
"It will be a chance for the public to meet Jason
and ask any questions they would like," he said.
Following the event, the board will meet to
discuss the specifics of the new director's contract, including
salary, Newman said.
Vance is scheduled to take over for departing
Director Wayne Honeycutt on July 1.
Loudon
County assistant director of schools, Jason Vance, was tapped Monday
night to become the new superintendent of schools. Vance was one of the
top five candidates of a field of sixteen. Board members held interviews
last Friday of those five candidates.