Dr. Kathy Murphy appointed unanimously as new Hoover City Schools superintendent
Dr. Kathy Murphy, the only female among the four finalists, will be the new superintendent of Hoover City Schools.
Murphy, currently superintendent of Monroe County, Alabama, schools, was unanimously selected in a 5-0 vote tonight, April 30, during a special meeting at the Hoover Board of Education.
Murphy accepted a base salary of $195,000 annually after getting a phone call during the meeting from Hoover School Board President Donna Frazier. Board member Craig Kelley had suggested the board raise the salary for the advertised $185,000, noting that previous superintendent Dr. Andy Craig had made $187,000, a base salary that had remained unchanged his entire seven year tenure.
Frazier said that Murphy had interviewed today with Dothan City Schools for its superintendent position, and agreed that a higher salary offer was warranted.
“I am pleased to say Dr. Murphy has accepted the job to be superintendent of Hoover City Schools, “ Frazier said a few minutes after leaving the board room to offer the position.
Frazier said she wants Dr. Murphy to start by June 1 so that she can get one month of on-the-job training with current interim superintendent Dr. Jim Reese, whose contract expires June 30.
The Board of Education meeting got off to a surprising start when Frazier announced that five minutes prior to the 7 p.m. meeting she had received a call from Dr. Vic Wilson, superintendent of Hartselle City Schools, withdrawing his candidacy. Wilson, who was previously principal at Mountain Brook High and Homewood High schools, had been widely considered the favorite early on after last week’s interview.
But when Murphy had her interview with the board Monday night, she immediately established herself as a viable contender.
During her April 27 interview, Murphy described herself as servant leader with the ability to inspire teachers and top administrators to inspire students to reach their full potential.
“I have a very proactive work ethic. I’m really a workaholic,” Murphy told the Hoover School Board. "Three things you need to know about Kathy Murphy [are]: I know the work; I take the initiative to get the job done; and No. 3, I’m results-driven.”
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