Twelve semifinalists named in Manatee School District superintendent search
Herald-Tribune | By Steven Walker | April 13, 2023
The School Board of Manatee County narrowed its superintendent search to 12 candidates in a workshop this week.
The 12 candidates are semifinalists to replace the retiring Cynthia Saunders, who was superintendent of the School District of Manatee County since June 2018 and announced her retirement in October. The board worked with the Florida School Boards Association to compile the semifinalists, and it will work with the association to narrow the list further at a workshop scheduled for April 28. The district will interview the finalists from May 10-11, and vote on selecting the new superintendent on May 16.
The candidates are mostly from Florida school districts, with the exception of two, one from South Carolina and the other from Pennsylvania. The candidates’ full resumes can be found on the district’s website.
Below are the names of each semifinalist with their education and previous experience, according to the candidate’s resume.
Scott Schneider, chief of schools for Duval County Public Schools, holds a master’s in education leadership from the University of North Florida.
Michael Scott Flowers, chief of staff for the School District of Osceola County, holds a master’s in educational leadership from the University of South Florida.
Ann Hembrook, an area superintendent for Marion County Public Schools, holds an education doctorate from the University of Central Florida.
Kim D. Moore, an assistant superintendent for Pasco County Schools, holds an education doctorate from Nova Southeastern University.
Benjamin Henry, a regional superintendent at the Polk County School District, holds an education doctorate from Argosy University.
Ernie Lozano, chief of staff at Broward County Public Schools, has a master’s in educational leadership from Florida Atlantic University.
Jason C. Wysong, a deputy superintendent for Seminole County Public Schools, holds an education doctorate from the University of Central Florida.
Richard J. O’Malley, the superintendent of Florence One Schools, a public school system in South Carolina, holds an education doctorate from Seton Hall.
Scott A. Davidheiser, the current superintendent of Lower Moreland Township School District in Pennsylvania, holds an education doctorate from Drexel University.
Doug Wagner, the deputy superintendent of operations at the Manatee School District, holds a master’s in educational leadership from Florida State University.
Charlie Van Zant, a former Clay County Public Schools superintendent from 1998 to 2016, has a master’s from Regent University.
Tim Bargeron, the chief financial officer for the Seminole County School District and a former deputy superintendent in Manatee County, holds a master’s in accounting from the University of Florida.
