Gunn not one of five finalists for Robertson County director of schools search

Former Dickson County educator Dr. John Gunn is not one of the five finalists named Monday in the search for a new director of schools in Robertson County. Gunn was one of 16 applicants in Robertson County’s second search for a replacement for Dan Whitlow, who planned to retire last year but stayed on one more year when the school board could not agree on a successor. Two current employees of the Robertson County school system also were not named as finalists by consultant Wayne Qualls, who was hired to conduct the search. One of the five finalists named Monday also was a finalist for the Dickson County director of schools position last year. Dr. Linda Cash of Gallatin interviewed with the Dickson County School Board in the search to replace Johnny Chandler, which resulted in the hiring of Dr. Danny Weeks, who was a finalist in Robertson County’s first search. At that time, Cash was principal of Station Camp Elementary in Gallatin but has since left to become assistant dean of graduate education at Union University’s Hendersonville campus. Other Robertson County finalists include Wilson County Director of Schools Mike Davis, educational consultant Wayne Honeycutt, Bluford, Illinois, Superintendent Scott Porter and New Haven, Indiana, Superintendent of Instruction Michael Shaffer. The Robertson County board is scheduled to interview the finalists March 23 and hopes to name a new director by April 1. Gunn was one of 16 applicants for the Dickson County job last year but was not a finalist. Efforts by some board members to add Gunn to the list of candidates failed. Gunn resigned from the Dickson County school system after being reassigned from director of attendance to a teaching position.