JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Duval County School Board named its three finalists for superintendent during a special meeting Monday night.
Board members voted 7-0 to approve Dr. Michael Dunsmore, Dr. Diana Greene and Dr. Erick Pruitt as finalists.
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Although the decision was made quickly on Monday evening, the entire superintendent search process has not been quick.
The pool started with 26 candidates and was narrowed down to six semifinalists, one of whom withdrew from consideration. Over the weekend, a focus group, which was made up of educators and parents, interviewed the five remaining semifinalists. Each one was asked questions about issues such as as school safety and budgets.
Now, the three finalists will go through the final steps to potentially become Duval County's top educator.
Dunsmore has led Wayne County Public Schools in Goldsboro, North Carolina, since 2015. Wayne County's annual budget is $195 million.
He holds two master's degrees, one in special education and one in counseling.
Greene has been Manatee County's superintendent in Bradenton, Florida, for the last three years. Manatee County's annual budget is $866 million. Prior to her current position, she served as deputy superintendent.
Greene has Jacksonville ties. She received her bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of North Florida, and her first teaching job was in Duval County.
Pruitt currently serves as superintendent of the Houston Independent School District, in Texas. He has led the district, which has a $1.5 billion annual budget, for one year. He previously served in the United States Marine Corps.
Next steps
This week, each of the newly named finalists will be interviewed.
The final round of interviews will begin Wednesday morning. Dunsmore will be interviewed on Wednesday, followed by Greene on Thursday and Pruitt on Friday.
All of those interviews with the full school board are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
The board is expected to announce its preferred candidate at 4 p.m. Friday.
An offer will be made on or before June 1, with a goal of having the new superintendent on the job on July 1.