MCS director field narrowed to three on The Murfreesboro Post

Sidebar Ads

MCS director field narrowed to three

Related Articles

Bradley Academy is now accepting applications

New faces for City Council, School Board

Election 2012: Murfreesboro School Board

TBR will honor Jones Foundation to work in community

Murfreesboro City Schools honors outstanding teachers

Schools closing early due to severe weather

Hobgood to get facelift

Weekend Planner: McFadden students featured in MTSU production

Jared Barrett to seek Murfreesboro School Board seat

Commitment to education is no laughing matter

View All

By: MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer

Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 11:51 am

MCS director field narrowed to three | MCS, Director, Lela Bridges, Linda Gilbert, Beth Wright

Dr. Linda Gilbert, Dr. Lela Bridges and Dr. Beth Wright are the top three finalists for the vacant MCS director post. Photo from WGNS.

The Murfreesboro City Board of Education Tuesday night narrowed down the candidates for the system’s director to the top three.

Lela Bridges, Linda Gilbert and Beth Wright topped the list of more than 20 candidates vying for city school’s top spot.

The board will conduct interviews with the candidates over the remainder of the week and select the top two at a special school board meeting at 8 a.m. Saturday morning.

A final decision will be made before Dec. 15.

Dr. Lela Bridges
Bridges is currently serving as superintendent of the Harvey Public Schools District 152 in Harvey, Il.

“My personal experiences as an individual who has taught and/or administered in pre-kindergarten through college engender my commitment and moral responsibility to close achievement gaps and promote the belief that all students can achieve at high levels, regardless of socio-economic or ethic situations,” she wrote in her application.

Before Bridge’s became superintendent 14 years ago, she worked as director of the Waukegan, Il. Public Schools District 60 and as an elementary and high school principal in the same district.

In her application, Bridges touted her financial management during her tenure as superintendent and her relationships with faculty, parents and students.

Dr. Linda Gilbert
Gilbert is a familiar face around Murfreesboro, having served as a professor at MTSU and administrator and teacher at MCS.

“The district has a rich and full past,” Gilbert wrote. “And I know that past like the back of my hand. But my decision to apply for this position, while grounded in the past, is focused on the future.”

As a former MCS employee, the 1997 Tennessee Teacher of the Year winner served as Community Relations coordinator, associate director of Instruction, and music teacher at Black Fox, Reeves-Rogers and Mitchell Neilson Elementary schools.

Dr. Beth Wright
A Murfreesboro Native, Wright started her professional career as a special education teacher with Rutherford County Schools before working at Metro-Nashville Public Schools, the Smyrna campus of the Tennessee Rehabilitation Center and Williamson County Schools.

“I believe I can continue the high quality of education that has been a foundation for Murfreesboro City Schools as well as make a genuine difference for the children and their future and the staff of MCS,” Wright wrote in her application.

With more than 26 years of administrative experience, Wright is currently serving as superintendent of the Florence County School District 3 in Lake City, S.C.

Tagged under Beth Wright, Director, Lela Bridges, Linda Gilbert, MCS

Member Opinions:

By: sunshinegirl on 11/19/09
Dr. Linda Gilbert is the only applicant who can lead us back to where we once were in M'boro City. Anyone remember how parents used to camp out the night before registration to ensure their out of city child had a spot? Dr. Gilbert knows the system, knows how to lead the system, has been here in the community working among her neighbors and has the relationships to support the challenges that are facing MCS. She is the perfect choice and she is one of us!