Carlinda Purcell, the first African-American and the first woman to serve as the superintendent of schools in Montgomery County, Ala., is fighting to keep her job after a majority of board members acted earlier this month to remove her.
Ms. Purcell, who came to the 33,000-student district in December 2004, filed for a temporary restraining order to block the board from firing her after five of seven members voted on Aug. 11 to begin negotiations to end her four-year contract.
Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Johnny Hardwick ordered Ms. Purcell and the board to negotiate an agreement by Aug. 31, according to the Montgomery Advertiser. If no agreement is reached, Judge Hardwick will rule on the restraining order.
Ms. Purcell is a graduate of the Broad Foundation’s 10-month program to train urban schools superintendents. (“Challenging the Status Quo,” June 21, 2006.)
