Connie Williams

Dr. Connie Williams was principal of Hoover High School in the mid-1990s and superintendent of the Hoover School System from 2004 to 2006.

Hoover Superintendent

Williams was promoted from assistant superintendent for Hoover to deputy superintendent in February 2004. The promotion was done primarily to keep her from pursuing the position of superintendent of Sylacauga. When Dr. Jack Farr went on medical leave in April prior to his official retirement in June, she was named interim superintendent. She was one of three who applied for the position permanently. The Hoover Board of Education decided to skip the interview process and unanimously agreed to hire her in August 2004. She was initially given a four-year contract for the position, but the contract was extended by an additional year in August 2005.

Firing

On June 23, 2006, Hoover School Board president Bill Veitch and new member A.W. Bolt met with Williams in her office to tell her the board wanted a new superintendent soon. On June 29, 2006, the Hoover School Board voted 4-0 in a closed meeting to terminate Williams contract. Some of the more than 250 people who had come to the meeting hoping for open discussion jeered the decision when it was announced. Under the terms of Williams' contract, the Hoover School Board had to pay her over $500,000 for her salary and deferred compensation through July 2009. Andy Craig was named interim superintendent.

No reason was given for Williams' firing at the time and none was required under the terms of her contract. In the weeks after, reasons such as philosophical differences and poor communication were given. A specific incident cited was a disagreement over paying new Spain Park High School football coaches for spring training.

In July 2006, Williams was hired as a consultant by the Birmingham School Board to help reorganize the Birmingham schools' central office.

References

• "School Board Promotes Assistant Superintendent". The Birmingham News 10 Feb. 2004.
• Hoover Schools at the Hoover Chamber of Commerce website. Accessed 11 Aug. 2006.
• "Williams to Lead Hoover Schools". The Birmingham News 6 Aug. 2004.
• "Schools chief says board wants her out; Williams says Hoover board members want new leader now, Says board member calls 2009 retirement '3 years too late'". The Birmingham News 28 June 2006.
• "Hoover schools' Williams fired Decision jeered after unanimous vote". The Birmingham News 30 June 2006.
• "Football coaches' pay cited in firing of Williams". The Birmingham News 19 July 2006.
• "Mims hires ex-Hoover chief Williams for consultant job". The Birmingham News 1 Aug. 2006.

Preceded by: '	Hoover High Principal	Succeeded by: '
Preceded by: Jack Farr	Hoover Superintendent 2004 - 2006	Succeeded by: Andy Craig (interim)