By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – Shelby County School System Superintendent Randy Fuller has been selected as one of only nine finalists for the Alabama/Classworks 2016 Superintendent of the Year award, the school system announced on Sept. 9.

Fuller and the other eight finalists from across the state – Dr. Aaron Milner, Saraland City; Dr. Don Willingham, Dallas County, Becky Birdsong, Geneva County; Dr. Kelli Hodge, Chambers County; Jenny Seals, St. Clair County; Dr. Paul McKendrick, Tuscaloosa City; Dr. Janet Womack, Florence City and Dr. Casey Wardynski, Huntsville City – will be recognized at the School Superintendents of Alabama luncheon on Oct. 12 in Montgomery. The overall winner will be announced during the luncheon.

Nominations for the award were submitted from each region of the state with Fuller representing District 5. The state winner will be determined based on his or her career achievements and success in progressing public education.

Fuller has been an educator in the state of Alabama for 38 years, serving as a teacher, coach, administrative assistant, assistant principal, principal, and superintendent. He began his administrative career as an assistant principal and principal in the Jefferson County School System, before being hired by Shelby County Schools in 1998 as principal to oversee the construction of Oak Mountain High School. After serving as principal of OMHS for eight years, Fuller was elected superintendent of Shelby County Schools in 2006. He began serving his third term in office January 2015.

During his tenure as superintendent, the Shelby County School System has faced multi-million dollar shortfalls in state funding due to proration and historic recession.  Fuller developed a four-component strategy to direct the system toward continued success.

“This four-part plan provides a sustainable path to follow that allows the district to still meet the expectations of being an exemplary school district even in times of continued economic crisis,” Fuller wrote in a statement.

Shelby County Board of Education members praised Fuller for helping the school system grow over the past several years.

“Mr. Fuller has a tremendous vision for instruction to meet the needs of our students. He is a people person who quietly strives to hire the best and brightest to achieve this vision,” said board member Jane Hampton.

Board member Peg Hill said Fuller is a “visionary, innovative, and creative planner and organizer who is not afraid of a challenge and puts the needs of children first.”

Fuller helped steer Shelby County Schools through its first district-wide accreditation process, during which it was deemed a “model school district” by the AdvancEd Quality Assurance Review Team. The QAR Team recognized the district for several strengths including superintendent leadership, organizational structure, strategic planning and continuous improvement planning, among others.

During his tenure as superintendent, Fuller has been recognized with numerous awards including the University of Montevallo Kermit A. Johnson Outstanding Superintendent Award, the Alabama School Communicators Association’s Superintendent of the Year Award, and the Marbury Technology Innovation Award for Central Office Leaders at the 2011 Alabama Educational Technology Conference.