Dr. Joshua Carter(Principal Science Hill), Dr. Corey Gardenhour(Principal of Robinson Middle School/Former Superintendent of Elizabethton City Schools), and Dr. Erin Slater(Superintendent Fort Madison Community School District in Iowa) have been named as the three finalists for the superintendent’s job in Johnson City.
This is a sweet and sour deal for me. As a Kingsport resident, we cannot afford to lose our best administrator. Dr. Gardenhour has been a relentless problem solver, an innovator, and a leader in our community for a long time. He would be incredibly missed, but Johnson City would be more than wise to lure him away from the Model City. I can think of no other candidate better at managing curriculum, raising money, attracting great employees, communicating with the public, and managing the ever evolving landscape of modern education. He has been a college professor, a teacher, a principal at multiple schools, a director of special education, a director of personnel, and a superintendent to name a few. In all of those positions he has been an exceptional leader and a man of integrity. He is a people person who has greatly elevated every, single placement that he has been. Under his leadership, Elizabethton built a new football stadium, renovated several school buildings, and their students excelled in both the classroom and in athletics. People have always been lined-up to teach wherever he has led. He has the pick of the region’s best teachers, because they love working for him.
In my opinion, he is one of the best educational administrators in the United States. That isn’t hyperbole on my part. Dr Gardenhour has worked with the XQ Institute(Laurene Powell Jobs and the Emerson Collective…wife of Steve Jobs) and has testified before Congress about innovative curriculum changes he made while superintendent. He collaborates on community, regional, state, and national levels. His networking skills are indeed remarkable.
Good luck to Dr. Gardenhour and congratulations on making the finals of a great school system.
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