The H.T. Edwards Sr. Teaching and Learning Center stands empty on Dec. 16, due to COVID-19 concerns. The Clarke County School District administration is seeking to fill two top Human Resources positions, the Chief of Human Resources and the Executive Director of Talent Management. “(We are looking for) someone who is visionary (to be Chief of HR), someone who has a strategic focus who can look beyond not only where we are, but where that department can go and can align that work with the strategic plan and priorities of the district,” CCSD Superintendent Dr. Xernona Thomas said. Photo by Micah Shannon
The Clarke County School District is searching for candidates for two top Human Resources positions because of the retirement of Chief of Human Resources Lynn Duke at the end of January 2021 and the resignation of Executive Director of Talent Management Michael Harris, who has accepted a position out-of-state, at the end of December.
Former Coile Middle School Principal Dr. Marsha Thomas, who recently retired after 22 years with CCSD, is concerned about the potential burden these openings could place on school administrators.
“The absence of those roles are going to put additional stress on our administrators. I’m hoping that (CCSD) is able to place someone in those positions that already knows the Clarke County way so to speak,” Marsha Thomas said. “I would propose an interim person that knows the protocols and procedures already of that position, because the thought of having to train two people for such a crucial role is going to place Clarke County at a disadvantage.”
Duke decided to retire after working in the district for 30 years, and plans to possibly go into another career after retiring from CCSD.
“It’s been a tough year so everyone kind of assumed, ‘Oh, this is it,’ but I’ve been in this for some time. When I started working in CCSD it was never my intent to work here for 30 years and then retire,” Duke said. “But for the past several years that’s been my goal and it just so happens I hit (30 years) now, and I knew that I would be young enough to go into another career so that’s been my plan.”
Harris is leaving the district at the end of December after accepting another position out of state. In Marsha Thomas’ experience, Harris was an outstanding mentor figure.
“(Harris’ departure) is going to be a huge loss because I can only tell you how he’s helped me to grow as a professional in my role,” Marsha Thomas said. “He was the person who worked closely with me when I got back to Coile in February of 2018. He was a great mentor to me. And I have worked with many professionals, but he stands out. He stands out in terms of helping me to be a better leader.”
“(Harris) was a great mentor to me. And I have worked with many professionals, but he stands out. He stands out in terms of helping me to be a better leader.”
— Dr. Marsha Thomas,
Former Coile Middle School Principal
Clarke Central High School social studies department teacher and lead mentor Karena La Rosa credits Harris with overhauling the teacher mentor program.
“When I came here, 14-15 years ago, I had a mentor, (but) there was not really any designated time to really meet. There was a checklist that the person was supposed to just talk to me about,” La Rosa said. “Two years ago, thanks to Mr. Harris, (the program) is very detailed, it’s structured (and) there are tools in place.”
CCSD Superintendent Dr. Xernona Thomas says the district is actively searching for a candidate for a new Chief of Human Resources.
“We started interviewing over a month ago, and we’ve done another round of interviews a couple of weeks ago,” Xernona Thomas said. “We are continuing to aggressively seek a candidate because we would still ideally like to have someone who could cross-train with (Duke) when we return back from the winter holidays.
Although she has confidence in the HR department, Xernona Thomas hopes to find a quality replacement as soon as possible.
“I can’t lie and say ‘that doesn’t bother me,’ it concerns me. But I also know that Ms. Duke has done an excellent job of building a strong department and there are individuals in that department who know their roles very well,” Xernona Thomas said. “That makes it a little easier for me to breathe and sleep at night. But yet, I recognize that there is a sense of urgency there and we need to get those positions filled as quickly as possible.”
The hiring committee for the Chief of Human Resources consists of CCSD employees from a variety of departments, which Xernona Thomas says is because so many departments rely on Human Resources.
“The committee is comprised of building principals and district-level staff. We have staff from instruction, we have staff from operations from business and finance,” Xernona Thomas said. “Whether it’s transportation for hiring bus drivers, to custodial staff, to our principals, all of those departments heavily rely on Human Resources to get the staffing that they need, so we want their voices to be captured in the hiring process.”
“Whether it’s transportation for hiring bus drivers, to custodial staff, to our principals, all of those departments heavily rely on Human Resources to get the staffing that they need, so we want their voices to be captured in the hiring process.”
— Dr. Xernona Thomas,
CCSD Superintendent
After the hiring committee has finished, they will make recommendations to the CCSD cabinet.
“(The hiring committee) makes a recommendation for the cabinet to then interview for the second round,” Xernona Thomas said. “(Cabinet is) the department heads, so the Chief of Human Resources, normally, Ms. Duke isn’t on (this committee), our Chief Financial Officer, Chief of Operations, Chief of Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships, our Executive Director of School Supports, our Chief Academic Officer and then I’m on that committee.”
Although a candidate would ideally be found before Duke retires, Xernona Thomas is willing to wait longer in order to find the best possible candidate.
“If we have to hire an interim, we will do that. I am not interested in sacrificing quality just for the sake of time,” Thomas said. “So we will continue to look for the candidate who best fits the needs, the visions and the strategic direction of Clarke County schools.”
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