The search for a new Harford County schools superintendent has narrowed from 17 candidates to four.
The Maryland Association of Boards of Education launched a nationwide search in January, soon after the death of Harford Superintendent Jacqueline C. Haas. Patricia L. Skebeck is interim superintendent.
"We will be looking for a someone coming from a place similar to Harford County," said Cathi Peters, president of the Harford County Council of PTAs, who will be among those interviewing the candidates. "We also want someone who will continue the open-door policies of Dr. Haas."
The Harford County Board of Education will choose a superintendent early next month. The successful candidate will supervise nearly 40,000 students, in 54 schools, and about 5,000 employees.
The finalists are:
* Raymond Bryant, superintendent of schools in Elmira, N.Y. He has previously worked as associate superintendent for special-education reform and director of special education in Washington, D.C., and has taught at Gallaudet, James Madison and George Mason universities.
* Carl Roberts, superintendent of Cecil County schools for 12 years and currently director of the Public Schools Superintendents Association of Maryland. The Perryville resident taught and held several administrative positions in Harford schools for many years.
* Franklin L. Till Jr., superintendent of the Broward County, Fla., schools, the sixth-largest district in the nation, since 2002. He has held supervisory and classroom positions in San Diego and served as CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County.
* Robert Tomback, an assistant superintendent for Baltimore County's northeast area, which includes 34 schools with about 25,000 students. The Timonium resident's career began as a social studies teacher and included several years as principal of Catonsville High School.
Each candidate will spend a day in Harford County, meeting with elected officials, the media, administrators, teachers, parents and business leaders. The day includes a tour of the county, visits to few schools and a stop at one school to lunch with students. The candidates will finish their visit with a dinner with board members.
The Maryland association will coordinate the interview process and provide the county board with comments and other information, said Teri Kranefeld, Harford schools spokeswoman.
"They will have a lot of different viewpoints to consider," she said.
The board expects to have the new superintendent in place by July 1.
