By Lana Clifton
The search for a new superintendent for Bryant Schools to replace Dr. Richard Abernathy has been narrowed to five final candidates. The candidates are being interviewed individually by the Bryant School Board each night this week. According to the district office, on Friday, March 19, immediately following the final interview, the Board will meet for consideration of hiring a superintendent.
The five candidates are Dr. Larry E. Smith of White Hall; Dr. Douglas S. Adams of Conway; Randy Rutherford of Benton; Dr. Roy “Cole” Pugh of Ft. Worth, Texas and Ted W. Hall of Batesville.
Adams is the current superintendent for the South Conway County School District and also served as the superintendent for the East End School District from 1999-2003.
Hall has been the superintendent for the Batesville School District since 2001. Prior to that, he served as the superintendent for the Southside School District of Batesville.
Pugh works as the superintendent of the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District in Texas. He has also held superintendent positions in four other Texas school districts.
Rutherford has been the principal for Bryant High School since 2007. He was also a principal for a school in Little Rock from 2005-2006.
Smith is the current superintendent for White Hall Public Schools and served as assistant superintendent for Bryant from 2003-2007.