Creel experienced in charter schools; excited to join Gainesville school system

GAINESVILLE - Wanda Creel, the lone finalist for the superintendent's position with the Gainesville City School Board, is no stranger to the charter school system.

Creel is currently the superintendent for the Barrow County School System, which is also a charter school system, though larger than the Gainesville System, with about 13,330 students and 16 schools.

"Being [from] a fellow charter system myself, it gives me the opportunity to continue in that role with a charter system," said Creel.

Creel said she had also worked in a metro-area system, larger systems and other systems the size of Barrow County. "This gives me the opportunity to work in a city school system within a county and I've not had that experience before," said Creel. "And I look forward to learning and growing in that opportunity ."

Board members announced on Friday morning that Creel was the sole finalist out of 26 applicants. Dr. Merrianne Dyer, the current superintendent, is retiring at the end of the year.

Creel is not bringing any children to the school system with her; her three children have all graduated. However, one of them just finished student teaching at a Gainesville City School. "She just thought so highly of the system," Creel mentioned.