› More information about the finalists,

Natasha Baker

Alan Coverstone

Assistant professor of education and director of graduate programs in education at Belmont University. Previously, Coverstone was the executive officer of charter schools for Metro Nashville Public Schools, and also served as the executive officer for innovation in the district.

Clifford Davis Jr.

Chief of staff for Knox County Schools. Davis has been in Knox County Schools since 2005, previously working as the executive director of secondary education.

Jack Elsey Jr.

Chief schools officer for the Education Achievement Authority of Michigan. Prior to that, Elsey was the chief officer of innovation and incubation for Chicago Public Schools. From 2005-2011 he was the managing director of public affairs and school relations for Teach for America, New York.

Timothy Gadson III

Superintendent designee and executive director of curriculum and schools for Robbinsdale Area Schools in Minnesota. From 2014 to 2016, Gadson worked as the associate superintendent for Atlanta Public Schools.

Stuart Greenberg

Chief academic officer for Leon County Public Schools in Florida. Prior to that, Greenberg was executive director for Reading and Early Learning for the Florida Department of Education. Greenberg was one of the six finalists in Knox County’s recent superintendent search.

Arthur Wayne Johnson

Founder and chairman of First Performance Corp. Prior to that, Johnson was the CEO of Reunion Financial Services Corp. and a managing partner at Global Education Partners. He lives in Georgia.

Bryan Johnson

Chief academic officer for Clarksville-Montgomery County School System in Tennessee. Before being named to that position, he served as the director of high schools for the district.

Kirk Kelly

Interim superintendent of Hamilton County Schools. Kelly has been an educator in Chattanooga City and Hamilton County Schools for 35 years, starting as a math teacher and moving up to assistant superintendent for accountability and testing, before being selected to serve as interim superintendent.