10 apply for director or schools

The Cannon County Board of Education received 10 applications for the position of director of schools, it was revealed Monday.

Of the 10, three are already employed by Cannon County Schools -- current interim director of schools William "Freddy" Curtis, West Side principal Karen King and Mike Jones, principal at Cannon County High School.

The deadline to apply was Monday. The applications received an initial review at a school board workshop Monday night attended by board members and members of an advisory committee appointed to assist in the director search and hiring process.

The 10 candidates will initially be interviewed by telephone during a workshop Saturday (March 10) at the Central Office starting at 9 a.m.

Following is a brief overview of the 10 applicants:

Brian Brewer: Brewer's current position is Career and Technical Education Coordinator for Metro-Nashville Public Schools. He lives in Spring Hill. He has degrees from Victory University and the University of Memphis. He was a teacher for six years at Bartlett High in Bartlett and has worked in the private sector as an IT specialist.

William "Freddy" Curtis: Currently serving as interim director of schools, Curtis has been a US Government, AP US Government & Politics and Sociology Teacher at Cannon County High School for 10 years. Prior to that he was principal at West Side for six years and a teacher at West Side for 16 years. He has 32 years of service in Cannon County Schools. He holds degrees from Lee University, Tennessee Tech and MTSU. In 2014 he was Cannon County High, Cannon County Schools and Upper Cumberland Regional Teacher of the Year.

Paul Joseph Eichelkraut: Currently the District Coordinator for Child Care, Homebound Instructional Services and RtI Fidelity for the Jackson-Madison County School System. Eichelkraut has also served as a Title I PK-6 principal for Jackson-Madison and as a part-time Director, Superintendent Intern and Principal for schools systems in Wisconsin. He has also taught school in Louisiana and attended college in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

James Michael (Mike) Jones Sr.: A 1968 graduate of Middle Tennessee State, Jones' first job was as a General Science and Algebra I teacher at Woodbury Central High School in 1971. Prior to being named principal at Cannon County High on 2013, Jones spent most of his career as a Science and English teacher at various schools in Rutherford County.

Karen T. King: King is a native of Cannon County. She holds both a Master's (M.A.) and an Education Specialist (Ed. S) degree in Educational Leadership. Prior to becoming principal at West Side she held the same position at East Side. Before that she was a teacher at West Side for 16 years. She attended both Tennessee Tech and MTSU and has amassed a long list of educational honors.

Michelle Prater: Prater currently resides in Murfreesboro. She has studied at both Middle Tennessee State and Tennessee State. Currently she is an instructional coach at Johnson Learning Center in Nashville. She has previously worked in Cannon, Wilson, Rutherford and Hamilton counties.

Larry Neil Roney: The Lead Principal at Ashland City Elementary/Riverside Academy since 2012, Roney has attended both Middle Tennessee State and Trevecca Nazarene. He has also taught agricultural education, biology and physical science and was STEM chairman for Northeast High School. Roney also served as District Athletic Director for Cheatham County Schools and for four years was co-owner of H&R Financial Services in Woodlawn.

Jason Scarbrough: A graduate of Murray State, Scarbrough is currently in his 17th year as an educator and seventh year as principal of W.O. Inman Middle School in Paris. Prior to that he worked in the Calloway County School District in Kentucky as a Special Education teacher, Migrant Advocate, District Director of Childcare and Preschool Principal.

Micheal Steele: A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Steele's current position is Executive Principal at Stratford STEM Magnet School is Nashville, a position he has held since 2010. It is the fastest growing high school in the state. He has also been principal of University Christian Middle School and assistant principal of Andrew Jackson High School. He has served as a guidance counselor and has extensive law enforcement education/training. He was National STEM Principal of the Year in 2014.

Kimberly Michele Tucker: Tucker, who currently serves as principal of Sewanee Elementary School in Franklin County, spent 26 years as a teacher and principal in Cannon County. She also attended elementary and high school here. She attended both Tennessee Tech and Middle Tennessee State. She was Cannon County and Upper Cumberland Principal of the Year in 2007 and Middle Tennessee Principal of the Year in 2008.