Local News

Irving School District Names Lone Finalist for Superintendent

IrvingWeekly Staff

| Published

February 18, 2010

Dr. Dana T. Bedden

At the special called meeting of the Irving ISD Board of Trustees February 18, trustees voted 6 to 1 to name Dr. Dana T. Bedden as the lone finalist for the position of IISD Superintendent of Schools.

Bedden currently serves as superintendent of Richmond County School System in Augusta,

Georgia

. A native of Florida, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Florida (UF) and Master of Education degree from Pennsylvania State University. He earned a Doctor of Education in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech University.

According to Texas law, the board must now wait 21 days before voting to hire Bedden to replace the interim superintendent, Dr. Neil Dugger, who has served as district leader since March 27, 2009. Trustees voted in August 2009 to hire Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Executive Search Services to conduct the superintendent search. TASB consultants met with staff and community groups to discuss desired characteristics of a new chief executive officer. After the meetings, a profile was developed to serve as a yardstick used by trustees and consultants in evaluating applicants for the position. TASB consultants narrowed the applicant pool to six, which trustees pared down to three candidates before conducting visits to finalists’ home districts.

Bedden began his career in 1991 as middle school health teacher and basketball coach with Pinellas County Public Schools in Largo, Florida. From 1993-1994, Bedden served in Pennsylvania as athletic director for City of York School District, and then from 1994-1996 as district community and athletic resource administrator for Exeter Township School District. From 1996-1999, Bedden served as subschool principal at Mount Vernon High School in Fairfax, Virginia. He served as principal at School Without Walls Senior High School in Washington, D.C. from 1999-2003. Bedden became central region superintendent for School District of Philadelphia, in 2003, and in 2007 was named superintendent of Richmond County Schools.

Bedden serves on several education advisory and administration boards including: American College Testing Education Advisory Board, SACS/CASI Accreditation Appeals Board, American Association of School Administrators, UF College of Health & Human Performance, Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, YMCA of Metro Augusta, and Boys and Girls Club of Augusta. Professional affiliations include: Association of Supervision & Curriculum Development, Phi Delta Kappa, Education Law Association, American Association of School Administrators, Georgia School Superintendents, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Middle School Association, Council for Exceptional Children, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Bedden has earned superintendent certification in Virginia and Pennsylvania, earned an administrator license in Virginia and North Carolina, and received teacher certification in Virginia. He is also a certified athletic administrator by National Association of Interscholastic Athletic Administrators. He is the recipient of the 16th Annual Minority Leadership Award from UF College of Health & Human Performance. Following participation in Reserve Officers Training Corps at UF, he earned a commission in 1990 as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserves, and completed his military service in 1996. Bedden and his wife Ava are the parents of three children.