Sole finalist named in search for DeKalb County School District superintendent

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The DeKalb County Board of Education announced Thursday that Dr. Rudy Crew is the sole finalist in its search for a new superintendent.

The decision is the result of a five-month search that included 68 applicants and was informed by community feedback collected in focus groups and an online survey.

According to DeKalb County Schools, Crew brings decades of top-level K-12 experience to the role.

He has served as chancellor of the New York City Board of Education, superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and the state of Oregon’s first-ever chief education officer.

Most recently, Crew served as president of Medgar Evers College, a public college in New York City, for seven years.

“We heard from the community that it was paramount the candidate have deep experience as an educator, an administrator and a partner to parents, teachers and students,” board Chair Marshall Orson said.

“We are excited to not only have found a finalist who meets these criteria, but also has more than a quarter-century of experience in leading school districts, including a strong track record in heading two of the nation’s largest urban districts. This positions him well to lead the DeKalb County School District, which is the third-largest school system in Georgia.”

During the next few weeks, Crew will meet remotely with employees, students and community members across the district, including two online town hall meetings during which the public is invited to ask questions.

Georgia law mandates that school districts must give a minimum of 14 days for public input before finalizing an agreement with a new superintendent.

In accordance with guidance from the governor regarding COVID-19, all meetings will be conducted virtually, the school district said.

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