AMERICUS — The Sumter County Board of Education (SCBOE) has narrowed its search for a new superintendent to three candidates recently.

The public will be introduced to each next week — Steve Ballowe at 7 p.m. Monday in the gymnasium of Sumter County Primary School, Valya Lee at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the cafeteria at Sumter County Middle School and Roy Brooks at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 25 in the gymnasium of Sarah Cobb Elementary School.

No one within the Sumter County School System applied for superintendent of schools.

The public is welcome to e-mail questions to the Sumter County Board of Education at suptsearch@sumterschools.org before or after each forum.

This is part one of a three-part series about each of the candidates. This part will focus on Steve Ballowe’s background and how he became a finalist for the superintendent’s position of the Sumter County School System.

Ballowe is now the principal for Glynn Academy in Brunswick, and has been serving as such since 2008, where he serves 1,650 students, and for which he is paid an annual salary of $135,000.

From 2001 to 2008, he was the superintendent for the Gainesville City School System, where he served 5,850 students and earned $235,000. In July 2008, that School Board voted 3-2 to end his service.

In response to this, he wrote in his application to the SCBOE, “The three votes were from new board members who were not part of my original hiring in 2001, and the creation of the “Gainesville Model.” This new board majority wanted to create their own program, with the “good old days” prominently noted. In addition to my termination, the board had earlier ended the established leadership of the board chair and enacted a board chair of the month.” He then referred the SCBOE to a recommendation letter written by Gainesville Board Member Willie Mitchell for more insight into the matter.

In part of Mitchell’s recommendation letter, he wrote, “In 2001, the Gainesville School Board was tired of hearing the excuses about why the achievement gap existed and how nothing could make dramatic improvements without society changing. Then, Dr. Steven E. Ballowe interviewed and promised that student achievement would improve for all students if the board and superintendent created a partnership that would focus on children. By using data, and providing a standards-based program of teaching and learning, he guaranteed that all students would achieve. The board, realizing the difficulty of change, accepted his challenge and Dr. Ballowe was hired. During his tenure, he created what was known as the ‘Gainesville Model.’ Dr. Ballowe’s guarantee that all children would improve was achieved and the achievement scores for all children in Gainesville soared. By 2008, our student achievement scores were in the top five percent of school districts in Georgia and our school district was being regularly evaluated and replicated by educators across multiple states. President George Bush recognized and applauded our schools! Gov. Sonny Perdue applauded our accountability plan and used it as a model for a state accountability plan in 2007. Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle used our model of choice as a foundation for historic charter school legislation passed in 2008. The Georgia School Board Association regularly asked the Gainesville City School Board and superintendent to share the ‘Gainesville Model.’

“The State Superintendent of Education ... Kathy Cox, thousands of educators and politicians visited Gainesville during Dr. Ballowe’s tenure, leaving with high praise and often replicating parts of the ‘Gainesville Model.’ During dozens of public presentations, I always noted, ‘as the rising tide in the harbor impacts all ships from the smallest tugboat to the largest luxury yacht, rising student achievement in Gainesville improves the lives of all students.’

“Sadly, as we have observed with the election of our first minority president, many individuals are fearful when all can achieve or reach lofty goals. The Gainesville City Schools, even though our students are mostly minority, exists in a city and county where the majority of the population is white. There were individuals who did not applaud the rising tide of student achievement for all students and wanted to focus on the ‘elite’ and often a ‘return to the good old days.’ Thus, in January 2008, the original five-member board that hired Dr. Ballowe changed with only two remaining board members. During the first month (with the newly-elected board members) the school board:

1. removed the veteran board chair

2. created a ‘board chair of the month’ that proved highly dysfunctional

3. proposed ending the ‘Gainesville Model’ and proposed penalties ‘assigned by the board for any employee who used the Gainesville Model to assist any other school district, politician, educator, etc., with improving student achievement’

“Within one month, the new board removed our focus from student achievement, and we started to focus on community highlights, past friendships and the good old days.

“In 2008, Dr. Ballowe found himself having to reprimand individual board members for behaviors not recommended by the Georgia School Board Association or Southern Association of Schools, which was unfair to the superintendent. However, with our board chair of the month plan, there was no ability to control individual board members’ inappropriate actions. Even with repeated calls by the school board attorney, superintendent and individual board members to enact a board retreat and focus on board roles and ethics, the board refused. To this date in November 2009, the board has not addressed the issues of board ethics and individual members’ actions.

“Also in 2008, the Gainesville City Schools faced a financial crisis, similar to the financial crisis existing in Georgia, the United States and the world. Our new three-person board majority exploited our financial situation and placed the total blame on the superintendent. A small part of the community attended public forums on our budget and Dr. Ballowe became the focal point for blame as the need existed to raise our taxes. What was never known during our public forms on the budget were:

1. Dr. Ballowe was not allowed by the Board majority (even though two of us requested) to share any data on the budget, even to correct erroneous statements and data.

2. The local municipal government had passed tax exemptions that reduced our school revenue by (more than) $6 million annually, which was greater than our deficit.

3. That the board had reduced the tax mil, in the middle of the school year and against the recommendation of the superintendent, that reduced our revenue and defined the deficit. Consequently, when the deficit was announced, and the tax needed to be increased to the original level, the outcry was over a tax increase during this difficult financial time in the state and world.

“In July 2008, Dr. Ballowe’s contract was terminated by a 3-2 vote.

“Let it be known that during every public forum and his last months serving Gainesville, even while silenced by a few board members and small but vocal part of our community, Dr. Ballowe always maintained his enthusiastic attitude. To this day, he treats everyone with the respect, enthusiasm and dignity that was his trademark as our superintendent.”

From 1996 to 2001, Ballowe was deputy superintendent for the Beaufort County, S.C., school system, where he served 14,500 students and earned $105,000 every year. He said he left this position to become a full superintendent.

Before that, he was executive director for the Governor’s School in Virginia from 1991 to 1996, where he served 590 students and was paid $78,000 every year. He said he left that position to return to a place closer to where he grew up.

From 1986 to 1991, he was superintendent for a school system in Hopewell, Va., where he served 3,500 students and made $65,000 per year. Ballowe said he left this job to head the Governor’s School.

Before that, Ballowe was principal at a Beaufort County, S.C., school system from 1979 to 1986, where he served 1,100 students and made $45,000 per year. He said he left that position to become a superintendent.

Ballowe was assistant principal at Richard One in South Carolina from 1977 to 1979, before he became principal in Beaufort County, where he served 18,000 students and earned $25,000 every year.

Ballowe began his career in 1972, as a teacher in Lynchburg, Va., where he served 12,000 students and made $8,900 per year. He was a teacher until 1977.

Ballowe received his doctoral in 1986 from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., with an education administration degree with a focus on superintendent skills.

He received his education specialist’s degree in 1982 from the University of South Carolina, as well, with an education administration degree with a focus in curriculum.

Ballowe received his master’s degree in 1977 from Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Va., with a focus on education administration.

He received his bachelor’s of arts degree in 1971 from Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Va., with a major in history.

Ballowe has written two books — “Georgia MAGIC” (Making Achievement Gains In Classroom program) and “The Gainesville Model.” He’s also presented workshop sessions for the Georgia School Boards Association.

He said his education philosophy was, “Success must begin with a strong school board and superintendent partnership. When this partnership, with a shared mission and vision, focuses the need of children versus the politics of adults, a teaching and learning culture will guarantee success.”

Ballowe said he was interested in becoming Sumter County’s new superintendent because he believes he can bring years of experience and leadership to the school system.

“Having observed the leadership of Dr. McMahon and the Board, my experiences will provide continuity with the leadership goals,” Ballowe wrote, “while providing a new, professional experience.”

Another part of Mitchell’s letter reads, “As a 20-year board member still serving on the Gainesville City School Board, I highly recommend Dr. Steven E. Ballowe for a position as superintendent of schools. My recommendation is based on the fact that Dr. Steven E. Ballowe took our struggling school district, where achievement scores for minority students were horrendous and created a program where student achievement improved for all students. This was accomplished in a Title One school district, which grew from 3,600 students in 2001 to almost 6,000 students in 2008, and minority students represented 75 percent of our student population. The incredible feat was also accomplished by a district spending less than the average expenditure per pupil for the State of Georgia’s 180 school districts. Perhaps the greatest asset that Dr. Ballowe offers, to complement his vision for all children, is an energetic enthusiasm that will create a leadership culture and team that most will want to join.

“ ... I am pleased that Dr. Ballowe has continued his leadership in education and that his leadership continues to inspire. Currently serving as principal in the Glynn County School District, I take pride when his new school board members praise the great work he accomplishes each day. The man is a quiet and confident leader, but one who will produce dramatic results for all children as superintendent of schools.”

Kelvin Simmons, Gainesville City School Board of Education, also wrote a letter of recommendation for Ballowe, which, in part, read, “Dedicated, passionate, diligent, resolute, these words do not begin to fully describe Dr. Steven Ballowe’s education administrative character. Not only was he a vital component to the success of the Gainesville City School System, he was one of the many elements that bound and united it. His contributions to improving performance standards were remarkable and unparalleled.

“ ... As an active member of the Gainesville community for 30 years and a member of the School Board for 19 years, I have never experienced a Superintendent with a desire not only to enhance the school system, but the community, as well. Dr. Ballowe played an active role within the community, and was committed to effecting positive change. His relationship with parents and community leaders was impeccable. He was proactively involved in several church initiatives, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Newtown Florist Club. His years of committed service and community activism will always echo through the streets of the Gainesville community and the walls of Gainesville City School System encouraging and motivating others to excel and to become agents of innovation.

“Sadly, with the election of a new board, political agendas took priority over the remarkable system’s success of improving achievement scores for all children. Using the budget difficulties that have hampered school districts across the U.S., Dr. Ballowe was terminated by a 3-2 vote. The reality is that a small, but vocal, part of our community was challenged and uncomfortable with the rising achievement of all children, especially minority children. This small group seeks a return to the “good old days,” which were never beneficial for minority children. Dr. Ballowe created the “good new days” that included success for all children! Without the positive leadership and focus on each child that Dr. Ballowe provided, our district is no longer applauded and recognized as a leader in Georgia.

“It is evident that Dr. Ballowe is more than deserving of the position of Superintendent of Schools. He is a beacon of inspiration and a figure of hope for the many children who strive to be excellent students and for the many teachers who dedicate their time and energy to ensure they accomplish their educational goals. He exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding leader who possesses personal integrity with a commitment to excellence. It is, without hesitation, that I proudly recommend Dr. Steven Ballowe for Superintendent of Schools.”

Ballowe also has letters of recommendation from Michael Kemp, assistant superintendent for student achievement for Glynn County Schools; Michael P. Bull, superintendent of Glynn County Schools, and Jimmy D. Willis, superintendent of Putnam County Schools.