An Auburn University alum is now leading the state of Alabama's education system, at least for the time being.
Ed Richardson, who received three degrees including a doctoral degree in education from Auburn, was voted in as interim state superintendent on Thursday by the Alabama State Board of Education.
In 1995, Richardson began his tenure as state superintendent, a role he filled until 2004, when he was named interim president of Auburn University. As state superintendent, Richardson was on the University Board of Trustees at the time.
In December 2003, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools placed Auburn on one-year probation after concerns arose about the level of influence trustees had on University operations. The month before, then-Auburn President William Walker boarded Auburn Trustee Bobby Lowder's private plane along with Director of Athletics David Housel and flew to Louisville to talk to Bobby Petrino, University of Louisville head football coach, about replacing Tommy Tuberville as Auburn coach, in the infamous "Jetgate" incident. In January 2004, Walker submitted his resignation.
The Auburn chapter of the American Association of University Professors sent a letter to SACS in September 2004 accusing Richardson of creating "a chilling atmosphere on campus as a result of firings, demotions, the elimination of positions and the placing of individuals who go along with the board’s agenda into high office."
Later that year, with Richardson as interim University president, SACS announced it had lifted Auburn's one-year probation.
Richardson also served as superintendent of Auburn City Schools for 13 years. He is the current chairman of the Alabama Public Charter School Commission, the state agency responsible for overseeing Alabama's charter schools.
He replaces Michael Sentance as superintendent. Sentance resigned on Wednesday following a long battle with the Board of Education. In July, Board of Education members turned in evaluations of Sentance's performance, with most of them rating it poorly.
“Over the past two years, Alabama has experienced far too many changes in state government," Gov. Kay Ivey, who serves as an ex officio member of the Board of Education, said in a statement on Wednesday. "As with previous changes in leadership positions, we will use the pending resignation of the state superintendent as an opportunity to move forward and begin a new chapter in public education."
I have spoken with Mr. Sentance, thanked him for his commitment to public service and education and wished him well."
Because of retirement rules, Richardson can only serve two six-month terms maximum as state superintendent, according to Ivey.
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