Finalist voted in as official DeKalb County superintendent despite parent fallout

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — DeKalb County Schools Board of Education has officially voted Dr. Devon Horton as their superintendent for the upcoming school year.

Horton was named as the sole finalist for superintendent earlier this month, but not everyone approved of the school board’s choice.

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This official vote makes Horton the fourth superintendent in just the last four years.

Channel 2′s Tyisha Fernandes was at the meeting when all board members except Dr. Joyce Morely voted for Horton.

Earlier this month, Morely also told Fernandes that Dr. Vasanne Tinsley should get the job.

Morely doesn’t think Horton can handle a district this large and she believes a pending federal lawsuit against Horton will eventually become Dekalb County Schools problem.

“To have the record that’s coming with this guy, do you hate yourselves and hate the district and the person in there doing the job that badly that you’re willing to sacrifice? Would you have this person running your household,” Morely told Channel 2 Action News.

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After the changes over the past several years, some lacked confidence in the board.

“The reality is they’ve struggled with this decision of the superintendent,” Dekalb NAACP President Lance Hammonds told Channel 2 Action News.

Horton currently leads a school district in a Chicago suburb with only 7,000 students. He’s also named in a federal lawsuit accusing him of violating the Civil Rights Act by treating White and Asian students differently than black and brown students.

But parent Ted Golden believes Horton deserves a chance.

“I’m impressed with some of the innovative things he wants to do. Community-oriented. parent engagement, those are things that are critical to our success,” Golden said.

In April, the state superintendent, Richard Woods, chimed in.

He sent a letter asking the board to pause their hiring process and allow Interim Superintendent Dr. Vassane Tinsley to remain in her position. The board chairman thanked Woods for his input.

DeKalb County Board of Education Chairman Diijon DaCosta Sr. responded to Woods’ letter with one of his own, thanking Woods for his support.

I hope this letter finds you well. Thank you for your concerns and partnership with the DeKalb County School District and Board of Education.

As the newly appointed Board Chair, I have seen our board work diligently to follow policies, processes, and protocols to achieve the best governance practices. We are committed to making informed decisions that prioritize the best interests of our scholars, teachers, staff, and community.

We also want to express our appreciation to our Interim Superintendent, Dr. Vasanne S. Tinsley, for her willingness to step in during this interim period.

We appreciate your support as we carry out our responsibilities and look forward to continuing our partnership to pursue excellence in education.

—  Diijon DaCosta Sr.

Even though Dr. Horton has secured the job, he will still need to negotiate his contract including his salary and start date.

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