Gainesville board announces sole finalist for superintendent's job

GAINESVILLE - The Gainesville City School Board has announced its sole finalist for a new superintendent for the school system.

Dr. Wanda Creel is the current superintendent for Barrow County Schools.

The board voted unanimously Friday morning to accept Creel's nomination. Board Vice-Chair Delores Diaz said Creel is a good fit for the Gainesville system.

"She is superintendent of a charter system already and understands our charter system and the shared governance that goes along with it," said Diaz.

"Her experience and qualifications are just exemplary. She has experience at all levels of education from the classroom all the way up to the State Department of Education."

Board member Sammy Smith said that Creel was the most outstanding of all 26 educators who applied for the position.

"It came to us very, very clearly that she was passionate and progressive and wanted this position," said Smith.

Diaz said the Gainesville School Board will be working with the Barrow County School Board to transition Creel to the Gainesville post over the next several months.

Current Gainesville School Superintendent Merriane Dyer is retiring at the end of the school year.