Calhoun County, AL – Dr. Jose Reyes, Superintendent of Calhoun County Schools, has announced he will soon be departing from Calhoun County. Though his tenure was short he is leaving behind a legacy of respect and impact as he transitions to a new role as Superintendent of Alexander City Schools. The announcement was made official by Alexander City during a Board of Education meeting in Alexander City on May 21st.
Dr. Reyes, has served as Superintendent of Calhoun County Schools for less than two years and will continue working through June 30th, ensuring a smooth transition as the district prepares for the upcoming school year. During his tenure, Dr. Reyes has earned widespread admiration for his leadership, dedication, and vision, making significant contributions to the educational landscape of Calhoun County.
BOE President Tobi Burt emphasized the board’s efforts to retain Dr. Reyes, acknowledging their awareness of the possibility of his departure once the former superintendent from Alexander City announced her retirement on March 1st. He also stressed there was some shock and disappointment. “We were aware that this could happen, and we actively worked to try to prevent it,” stated Mr. Burt. “We offered incentives for Dr. Reyes to stay, but we also understood that he had an opportunity to go home.”
Mr. Burt further highlighted the transformative leadership of Dr. Reyes, describing him as a catalyst for positive change who has left an indelible mark on the board members personally and professionally. Despite the challenges posed by Dr. Reyes’ departure, Mr. Burt expressed optimism about finding a suitable replacement to lead the district forward because the county deserves that best.
As the search for a new Superintendent begins, transparency and urgency will be key focuses to ensure stability for students and staff. He stated that the district is committed to identifying a candidate who can build upon Dr. Reyes’ legacy of excellence and dedication, maintaining the district’s trajectory of success.
The Calhoun Journal had the opportunity to speak with a few of the winners of the recent primary vote for the upcoming Calhoun County Board of Education (BOE) board. Joe Lathers, Alan Mange, Allen George, and Bobby Tittle emerged victorious in the Republican primary, setting the stage for the general election scheduled for November that will include additional democrat candidates.
Despite their success in the primary, none of the primary winers will assume seats until after the general election. No seats are guaranteed at this point. Whoever the winners are in the November election will take that seat at the first board meeting following the election.
Because four seated board members did not win the election there will be a large change in the board at the end of the year. This development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing transition within the Calhoun County School District. With Dr. Reyes’ departure imminent and the upcoming changes to the composition of the BOE, the district faces a period of transition and adjustment.
Mr. Tittle stated he understood, “This is a great opportunity. Dr. Reyes did a great job on many fronts. Primarily, he placed some stability in a position that was unstable and listened to the employees. He will remain on staff until June 30. I would assume the current Board will place an interim in the position. Also, since the new Board members are not in office at this time, we would have no knowledge of a “frontrunner”. I feel they will seek out a strong candidate, and if the opportunity arises, they will try to hire the candidate. It would be difficult to have an “interim” in place until November for the new Board to have a say. If a great opportunity arises, you don’t want to pass that opportunity up.“
Joe Lathers shared, “I was saddened to hear that Dr. Reyes took another position and I was looking forward to working with him, however I cannot fault him. I know he weighed the options and is doing what is best for him & his family. I wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors & would like to Thank him for his service and contributions to the Calhoun County School system. I am not aware of any frontrunners for interim or permanent. I will be praying for wisdom & discernment for the current board as they navigate these waters.”
Mr. Allen George expressed surprise upon learning about the potential return of the superintendent to their previous district, Alexander City. He also understood their were limitations in what the County could financially offer to keep Dr. Reyes. He did express a wish that the current board would allow the incoming member to have a part in selecting the next superintendent since there will be four new members joining the board and they will have to work had in hand with whomever is selected.
Mr. Alan Mange also expressed surprise upon learning about the return of the superintendent to his previous district.. He mentioned that he had recently spoken with the superintendent and congratulated him on the decision to return home and he shared regret that he won’t have the opportunity to work together further. Mr. Mange highlighted the positive relationship they had begun building and the superintendent’s explanation of his decision based on family ties and investment in both districts. Mr. Mange also discussed the process of selecting an interim superintendent and emphasized the importance of maintaining communication with the departing superintendent for his valuable insights and connections in the field. Mr. Mange also stressed the need to avoid unnecessary drama and misinformation, focusing on facts.
Commissioner Terry Howell also spoke with the Calhoun Journal and expressed sadness in the departure, but also understanding. He thanked Dr Reyes for his contribution to Calhoun County Schools and looks forward to maintaining a friendship. Commissioner Henderson expressed her sadness at the departure and noted Dr. Reyes’ many contributions to the county, She also jokingly stated she would miss his good looks as well! Commissioner Lee Patter stated, “Dr. Reyes has been wonderful to work with. With his leadership and his ability to see the bigger picture, he has moved the county school system in a great direction. We enjoyed and appreciated hearing his reports on the progress of the county school system at commission meetings. He is a man of great character and strong faith. He will truly be missed. I hope the best for he and his family as he moves into his new position.”
The Calhoun Journal also had the chance to speak to Dr. Reyes. He was asked why he made the decision to leave,
“Well, my daughter works at the middle school at Alexandra city. She’s the band director for the middle school. I have a son who works at River Bank and Trust, which is in Alexandria city. And then I have another son who currently works in Montgomery at Alfa and will be moving into the Montgomery area in the very near future. We spent 14 years of our adult lives in the Alexander City/Lake Martin area. That is what we call home. I had absolutely no intention of leaving Calhoun County. My thought originally after I came back out of retirement was to do three to five years, and then reevaluate my career at that time. I did not go seek out this job. It just kind of found its way to me. This is the only place I would leave Calhoun County for. I don’t have any other reason to leave other than to go back home. Things are running smoothly here. Things are comfortable and I like the way things are crafted. I will say I’m not gone yet. We still have work to do everyday. I will be until June the 30th. I will be working every day, just like I would be if I were not leaving. You know, I feel like I’m always been a hard worker, and I mostly see things through and leave them in the best shape that I can for that position.”
When asked if he would still maintain communication with staff and the board members here in Calhoun County he was emphatic that he would. “Simply answered, Yes, absolutely!”
He was also asked about wha the next steps and process will likely look like in selecting a replacement. He explained that the board will likely start the process immediately. He stated that would be the best course of action. While the board can have an interim in place for 180 days that is rarely done in any system, he explained. He also went on to explain that waiting that long would not be the best choice because you would be hiring mid-year and that reduces the amount of candidates you are going to be able to locate. Hiring someone sooner and allowing that person to start getting things in place before the start of the year is crucial for a smooth transition.
He also wanted to share that from his experience there are many approaches for hiring a superintendent. You have to list the position for 30 days, but after that the board could take open applications and conduct interviews, they could make a targeted hire like Alexander City did for him, you can also do what Jacksonville City recently did which was narrow the field to five, but then decide they only wanted to offer the position to one person without conducting additional interviews. He explained there is no right or wrong way and that is why you elect the board members for these difficult decisions.
When asked if there was anything else he wanted to communicate he shared he hated leaving so many great relationships. He has formed lasting bonds with faculty, staff, administration, and community members from parents, to business leaders, commissioners, and church members. He also shared that when he comes back to Calhoun County he will feel like he is coming back to family because that is always the way he was treated. “Calhoun County will always have a special place in my heart, and they’ll always be part of my family. That’s the way I see it.”
