Dr. Ed Nichols selected to lead Madison City Schools into challenging future
MADISON – Dr. Ed Nichols, the retired superintendent of Decatur City Schools, will be the person chosen to lead Madison City Schools into a future now challenged with COVID-19. He is the fourth superintendent to lead the school district since it began.
The school board named Nichols to the superintendent on Wednesday night during a special called meeting. He replaces Robby Parker, who retired in February.
“Thank you for this is incredible honor and privileged,” Nichols told the school board after being selected. “This is a tremendous school district with a rich heritage. It dates back all the way to Dr. Clark when the school system started and had great leadership with Dr. Fowler and Mr. Parker. I feel honored to even be able to pick up their mantle in a way and begin to move forward for the children of this community.”
Nichols also thanked assistant superintendent Eric Terrell for the leadership he has provided the school district as interim superintendent during one of its most challenging times. “You are to be commended for an outstanding job of leadership,” he told Terrell during the meeting. “I look forward to standing next to you and working with you.”
Nichols said his family is looking forward to being apart of the Madison community. “I will be supportive of the community in anyway I can and represent the school district to keep all children in the forefront of what we do in Madison City Schools,” he said.
Nichols started with the Decatur City Schools in 1988 as director of bands at Austin High School and worked his way up to district superintendent from 2012-2016. He briefly served as the interim superintendent for Madison City Schools in 2016 prior to Parker being named superintendent.
School board president Renae Bartlett commended the quality of the candidates and the finalists chosen for interviews. They included Dr. Nichols, Dr. Brian Clayton, the principal at James Clemens High School and Sylvia Lambert, the principal at Bob Jones High School.
“This has been one of the most challenging circumstances to have a vacancy, and to find a replacement,” Bartlett said. “The three finalists did an amazing job during the interview process. In Madison, we have demonstrated the ability to produce future leaders and we have had some outstanding candidates applying and interviewing for this position. We have selected a superintendent who will continue to develop leaders within this school system, so I am very proud of where we have been and where we are going.”
