Melvin J. Brown named Montgomery Public Schools superintendent

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - The Montgomery County School Board has named Melvin Brown as the school system’s new superintendent.

The announcement, by unanimous vote, was made Friday during a special called meeting that brought those in attendance to their feet to applaud the decision.

Brown has 23 years of school administration experience and is currently the chief executive officer of the Reynoldsburg City School District, located in Ohio. While serving with Reynoldsburg, Brown said his mission was to ensure that:

Every child in every classroom receives the highest quality education and instruction
Safe and secure learning and working environments are available for all students and employees
The school system attracts and retains the best possible employees
All employees are properly trained through ongoing staff and professional development to stay informed of current educational trends and to develop new skills in their areas of expertise
State of the art technology is readily accessible to all students and staff
Parent and community involvement in the educational process of our students are properly and continuously promoted and encouraged
All schools were providing opportunities for children to reach their full potential in and outside of the classroom.

Board members said Brown’s passion for education is what stood out during the interview process with District 6′s Claudia Mitchell calling him “truly inspirational” and adding, ”I watched how he reacted to the young people and the business community and the educators.”

“He’s innovative, creative and going to bring new ideas and a new spin to 21 Century learning and our whole approach,” explained Patrick Nelson, the principal at McKee Middle School.

The excitement extends beyond board members into the community.

“They’ve been able to move past so many hurdles,” said Metropolitan United Methodist Church Pastor Richard Williams, “and to know that we will have a leader who is excited to come to the capital city, it lets us know it is a new day in Montgomery.”

Brown holds an Ed.D. in Educational Studies and Educational Administration from The Ohio State University. He also has a master’s degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, and a bachelor’s degree in English from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

“As I watched the meeting, the entire atmosphere, but it was so exciting to watch the community be so excited about the process, the board was so enthused, that fed my soul, so to speak, and made me think this is the right thing,” Brown told WSFA 12 News Friday afternoon. “Really excited about the opportunity and humbled at the same time. It’s been quite a day, it really has.”

Previously, Brown served as regional vice president for Mosaica Education, Inc. and as deputy superintendent for the Cuyahoga Falls City School District. He has six years of experience as an elementary school principal and two years of experience as a middle school principal. His non-administrative experiences include teaching middle school language arts, high school English, and coaching track and boys’ basketball.

“We are so excited to have an educational leader of this caliber at the helm as we enter this crucial period in the history of MPS,” MCBOE President Clare Weil said. “We are proud of the progress we have made, but we know there is so much more to be accomplished. I feel extremely confident having Dr. Brown as the person leading us on this journey.”

“We are excited and stand behind the Montgomery County School Board’s decision. Dr. Melvin J. Brown brings the deep experience and innovation we need as an educator, and he is ready to work,” added Montgomery County Commission Vice Chairman Doug Singleton. “We think Dr. Brown will challenge the school system to grow, and he will strongly support and guide that growth.”

The search for a new superintendent comes after current MPS superintendent Ann Roy Moore announced her retirement, which is effective June 30. Brown was one of five finalists for the superintendent position. A total of 73 people started the application process. Forty completed it.

Brown said he’s excited to get started.

“Once I came to the community, that kind of sealed the deal, that’s a great place, the people are wonderful,” he professed. “I feel so at home, and I’m a Southern boy Metro, and I’m from Virginia, not quite as far south, but part of the South. So having that energy in that, that connection was very, very exciting for me.”