GRANT SCARBORO

Reporter

The decision for the position of superintendent of Harford County Public Schools has been steadily heating up with the number of candidates narrowing down to just two.  Mr. Sean Bulson and Mr. David C. Ring, Jr. are the final  two individuals left in the hunt for the new leader.

Bulson began his nearly 23 year career in public school in Montgomery County finishing his career there as a community superintendent. He then became superintendent of Wilson County Schools in the state of North Carolina and worked closely with University of North Carolina.  According to a press release from HCPS, Bulson has spent time “focused on preparing educators and directing a portfolio of statewide programs that support both schools and districts.”

Another candidate, David C. Ring, Jr.,  has had a career that spans over 35 years not just as a superintendent, but also a teacher, principal and assistant principal. In fact, his years of leadership positions only make up about 43% of his entire experience in public education. Those who know him say that Ring is highly regarded for “his consensus-building, communication and human relations skills.” Currently, he resides in the northeast section of Baltimore County with his wife, Stephanie.

The current superintendent in Harco, Mrs. Barbara Canavan, was hired to a four-year term on February 24, 2014. She announced her retirement earlier this year leaving staff and students all over the county eager to see what new ideas, changes, programs, and initiatives would be put in place once the newly hired individual takes over.

While the field of candidates has been whittled down to two, math teacher Mrs. Wenke Green hopes that the next superintendent will “take the suggestions made by the community, parents and teachers into consideration.”   Art teacher Mr. Jason Blevins is hopeful that the new leader will be “someone who puts students well being before testing.”

Drama teacher Mrs. Nancy Green agrees, “I hope they will be more supportive of classroom teachers and the work we’re doing in the classroom,” said the veteran teacher.  She added above all,  she hoped that the new leader “will celebrate the wonderful things that are happening in Harford County Public Schools and the amazing things our students are doing.”

Chemistry and physics teacher, Mrs. Beth Brown believes the next superintendent should make “…changes to the priorities that are set in the budget…” saying that many of them go to new technology, programs, software, etc. and is unsure as to why traditional educational techniques are being considered obsolete. Another math teacher Mr. Wardle is hopeful that the next superintendent will “…have more of a focus on learning and less focus on political agendas.”

Other teachers agree that the new superintendent has to be in touch with the schools individually because every school in the system is different. “Whether you’re talking Harford County, Baltimore County, whatever it is, if you’re superintendent you have to know about each particular school. Just like as a teacher with each student and their different learning styles, every school has its own set of dynamics and they have to have a pulse on the people that work for them,” said Spanish teacher Julio Fernandez.  He added that the leader of a school system should  “try to address those issues in a timely fashion and be interested in what goes on in the school because the school at the end of the day is the bolts and nuts of the operation. If the schools run smooth, then the system will be smooth.”