| Anna L. Mallory

anna.mallory@roanoke.com, 381-8627

CHRISTIANSBURG -- Montgomery County teachers and staff say they want a superintendent who is open with the public, well-spoken, understands rural and suburban issues and is connected to the classroom, among other traits.

"We need someone who reports successes and explains difficulties so citizens do not become complacent," said Angie Cornett, outgoing president of the Montgomery County Education Association, which represents school employees.

Cornett was one of four residents -- all school employees -- who outlined their ideas about a new superintendent to school board members at a public hearing Tuesday night.

Cornett, a teacher at Shawsville Elementary School, culled a list of desired qualities from the association's near 700 members. She said the list is not a reflection against outgoing schools chief Tiffany Anderson.

The association has praised Anderson, who spent four years as an elementary school teacher before becoming an administrator, for the time she spent in the county's schools and for helping to raise teachers' pay.

Its members want to continue those steps, Cornett said.

Anderson's contract with the district ends June 30. Her successor will be the third hire to head the district's 20 schools in a dozen years. State law requires the board to find a replacement within 180 days of the contract's expiration.

School board members called the hearing to get input about the traits that residents want to see in the next superintendent. Board members plan to meet again at 7 p.m. Tuesday to further discuss their thoughts on the matter. The meeting will take place at the school board's office.

They're also likely to decide whether to use a national executive search firm to help find Anderson's replacement.

Last month, four national firms responded to an ad the board placed for search services.

Erin Bull, newly elected president of MCEA and a teacher at Christiansburg Elementary School, said she wants to see a leader who evaluates success of teachers not only on standardized exam scores, but also on the arts.

She said the district needs a leader who can treat the communities in Montgomery County separately, understand their differences and how that relates to students needs and "recognizes that educating a child happens in more than just the classroom."

Other employees said they expect the superintendent to work with the community and employees and to focus on technology.