Superintendent candidate says school system needs contingency plans for reopening

MADISON – James Clemens High School principal Dr. Brian Clayton told members of the Madison City Board of Education Tuesday evening the school system needs to have multiple plans in place when looking at reopening the school campuses this fall.

He was addressing a question from school board member Greg Hulsey during the first of three interview sessions to find a replacement for former MCS superintendent Robby Parker.

The school board began the interviews this week, which will continue this evening and tomorrow. Four finalists were chosen last month, but that has been narrowed to three after one of the finalists took a position in California.

The position was left vacant by Parker’s departure in February. Assistant Superintendent Eric Terrell has been serving as the interim until the position is filled.

“What would be your plan for leading and preparing the school system for the resumption of traditional operations, especially knowing that what we think of now as traditional operations may never fully resume,” Hulsey asked Dr. Clayton.

“I think it is now necessary for us as a school system to make sure we are prepared for all aspects this pandemic can bring,” Dr. Clayton responded. “When we look at where we are, the situation seems to change tremendously almost every day. Obviously, as we look at being closed down and resuming in August we need to prepare many different contingency plans so we are very successful during that time.”

One aspect Dr. Clayton spoke about was continued professional development opportunities for teachers to adapt to whatever situation schools find themselves in this fall.

“If we look at the way schools were closed, we took normal face-to-face education and put everyone on e-learning. That is very difficult on a teacher, very stressful for a teacher,” he said in making the point that teachers need the development tools to assist them in a variety of possible situations. “There is a strong chance that we could continue with e-learning based on coronvirus numbers and how social distancing works. There is also a possibility that we could return to school as normal and then have to move to e-learning again.”

Clayton said another scenario would see around a 50/50 mix of e-learning and in-person class instruction. “We would admit half of the students in the school campuses each day and the other half on e-learning in order to keep the numbers down,” he said. “When you start talking about social distancing, especially in an elementary or middle school, it is a very tough concept that we are going to have to educate our students to do.”

He also told the school board members that there has been a lot of discussion on the state level about altering the school calendar in some way.

Legislation was introduced earlier the year to limit push the start date of school back to make more time for a longer summer break. The Madison school board, like several other North Alabama school boards voiced opposition to that plan, however with the recent coronivirus outbreak that plan, or a similar one, seems very likely.

“There is some talk about possibility moving the start date to late August in order to let some of the COVID-19 numbers we are seeing right now to subside before we return to school,” he said. “I think we need to make a plan, but also develop the different contingency plans to handle whatever could happen.”

Dr. Clayton also answered several other questions, including topics such as handling the rising student population and helping students reach their potential.

Other candidates for the position include Bob Jones High School principal Sylvia Lambert and former Decatur City Schools superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols.

Dr. Natasha Baker, the former Michigan Department of Education Deputy Superintendent of Education Services, removed her name from being considered after she accepted a position in California.

Madison City Schools spokesperson John Peck said the interviews will continue through Thursday, May 7.

Lambert will be interviewed tonight, May 6, and Dr. Nichols on May 7. All interviews will start at 5:30 p.m, and streamed live by Madison City Schools.

Peck said that citizens wishing to monitor actions by the Board can do so through the school district’s livestreaming site: https://mcs.eduvision.tv/LiveSched.aspx.

Information about each candidate:

Dr. Brian Clayton

Clayton facilitated the opening of James Clemens, Madison’s second high school, in August 2012 and coordinated development of all programs in academics, athletics and fine arts. He developed “Refuel Hour,” one hour of flex time for students at midday. In 2018, Clayton was honored as “Alabama Principal of the Year.”

In other positions as principal, Clayton led Liberty Middle School, where he oversaw the school’s transition from grades 7-9 configuration to grades 7-8, 2011-2012; Rock Quarry Middle School, 2008-2011; Tuscaloosa Middle School, where he coordinated closing the school and establishing three new middle schools, 2007-2008; Thomasville High School, 2006-2007; and Hale County High School, 2000-2006. He also worked as assistant principal at Hale County and taught mathematics at Greensboro West High School.

At the University of Alabama, Clayton earned a doctorate’s degree in Educational Leadership; Education Specialist in Education Leadership; Administration Certificate, Class A; and master and bachelor’s degrees, Mathematics. Clayton has held committee and leadership roles in his church and community groups.

Sylvia M. Lambert

Lambert holds a bachelor’s degree in special education, University of Mississippi; master’s in learning handicaps and reading, and Master Certification, educational administration, Auburn University in Montgomery; and Educational Specialist, Alabama A & M University.

Since 2015, Lambert has been Principal of Bob Jones High School and has led students in championing academic quality. She adjusts curriculum for 1,850 students that can pursue 31 advanced placement, along with various academics in career technology.

Also at Bob Jones, Lambert worked as Assistant Principal, Curriculum & Instruction. She produced the master schedule and catalog for curriculum and coordinated AP classes. Lambert also was Assistant Principal at Liberty Middle School and Administrative Lead for the district’s Extended School Year Program.

At James Clemens High School, she was Department Lead for Collaborative English and Reading. She taught in that field at James Clemens and Bob Jones. Her first teaching assignment was at Baldwin Magnet School in Montgomery. Her family formerly owned Express Employment Professionals.

Lambert has participated with numerous education committees and training conferences. She has traveled on missions across Europe, Central America and Europe.

Dr. Edwin C. Nichols Jr.

Nichols’ career started as band director at Tullahoma High School and then Austin High School in Decatur. His work in administration started as principal of Austin in 1998. He was promoted to Assistant Superintendent and then to Superintendent for Decatur City Schools.

Since 2016, he has worked as Director of Principally Speaking Network with The Schools Foundation in Huntsville and as Associate Consultant, ERI Services Inc. in Baton Rouge, La. Since 2018, Nichols has been President of ENspire Consulting LLC in Decatur. He also has served as media consultant for Decatur Morgan Hospital and Music Director of Central United Methodist Church.

At the University of Tennessee, he earned bachelor and master’s degrees in Music Education. At the University of Alabama, he completed the Innovative Leadership Program in 1998, followed by Education Specialist credentials in Educational Administration and a doctorate’s degree in Education Leadership.

Nichols has been an Adjunct Professor for Samford University and UA. He has been active in civic and professional organizations and earned honors from state education agencies and community groups. He grew up in Maryville, Tenn.