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SALT LAKE CITY — The State School Board voted Friday to offer the vacant position of superintendent of public instruction to Brad Smith, the current superintendent of the Ogden School District.
The motion passed with an 8-7 vote from the board, and Smith accepted the offer Friday afternoon.
An extensive search process began after Martell Menlove announced his retirement in March. Representatives from local education, business and government groups interviewed nearly 25 applicants.
The list was narrowed to four candidates — Smith; Rich Crandall, former director of the Wyoming Department of Education; John Barge, Georgia's State Board of Education superintendent; and Martin Bates, Granite School District superintendent.
Each of the four finalists underwent hourlong interviews with the board Thursday.
"It was a tough decision. Ultimately, I think everyone felt comfortable having moved these four forward, and I think we all felt that they were very strong candidates," said board member Jefferson Moss, who headed a search committee for the position.
"But in terms of Brad Smith, we're just very impressed. … We just feel confident that he'll be a great fit, and we're looking forward to having him bring those skills to the state," Moss said.
In terms of Brad Smith, we're just very impressed. … We just feel confident that he'll be a great fit, and we're looking forward to having him bring those skills to the state.
–Jefferson Moss, State School Board
Smith, 48, was appointed superintendent of the Ogden School District in 2011 after four years as board member for the district. He is a licensed attorney of almost 20 years.
When he began serving as superintendent, the Ogden School District was the lowest performing district in the state in several areas. But Moss cited "tremendous improvements" in graduation rates and literacy performance among students in the district that have occurred during Smith's tenure.
Smith's methods in academic turnaround initiatives have sparked controversy during his three years heading the district. During his interview Thursday, Smith articulated his reasoning for organizational shake-ups, which he said have caused about half of the district's 725 teachers to leave during his tenure.
"Our performance was not acceptable. It was not acceptable for my children — my personal children. It was not acceptable for my 12,000 children," Smith said Thursday. "I don't mean to be the harbinger of ill will or hard feelings or pain, but our system was letting our children down."
Despite the changes in Ogden, Moss said Smith's leadership was evidenced by improved student performance.
"He's shaken things up a bit in Ogden, but he's got a great track record," Moss said. "You could tell very clearly that he had just a passion for these students, a passion for student excellence, passion for some of the things that I think really resonated" with board members.
Ogden School District spokesman Zach Williams offered felicitations on behalf of the district.
"Obviously, it's very, very sad news for us," Williams said. "We're happy that the state recognized his leadership abilities and also recognized the great progress that's been made in our district under his tenure as superintendent."
Smith resides in Ogden with his wife, Debbie, and has three children.
