Marion County School Board appoints Dr. Danielle Brewer interim superintendent; board leaves door open for national search

The Marion County School Board voted 5-0 on April 29 to appoint Dr. Danielle Brewer as interim superintendent under a one-year employment agreement that runs through April 29, 2026.

The appointment followed nearly an hour of public comment at the board’s Ocala meeting, where parents, teachers and local party leaders urged the board either to conduct a nationwide search for a permanent superintendent or to allow Dr. Brewer to compete in any future search. The vote approved both the interim appointment and the one-year contract; the board said it will consider whether to hold a national search at a later date.

Board members framed the vote narrowly as approval of an interim contract rather than a decision about a permanent superintendent. "Tonight we're making a decision about an interim superintendent and we're voting on an interim superintendent contract," said Dr. Sarah James, District 5. "And that contract turns out on 04/29/2026." Reverend Carrie Cummings, District 3, said the meeting was not the time to decide the permanent-search process: "Tonight is not to determine process of how we get a permanent superintendent. This tonight is about the interim superintendent."

Community speakers at the meeting offered contrasting perspectives but many endorsed Dr. Brewer’s leadership record. Ben Whitehouse, a Marion County resident, said, "I support Dr. Brewer wholeheartedly as an educator, a leader, a champion for our students, and as our interim superintendent." Retired Air Force Col. Keith Cunningham told the board, "Very simply, Dr. Danielle Brewer is the most effective leader I have encountered in education." Gary Smallridge, a longtime district educator who worked with Brewer at Fort King Middle School, said, "Dr. Brewer is the right choice." Patricia "PG" Shaffer, Marion County Republican state committee woman, urged a national search on behalf of her committee, saying Marion County needs the "best and brightest" for children's education.

Board discussion and staff comments clarified a few contractual and process items. Board members said the interim contract does not bar Dr. Brewer from applying for or being considered in any future national search should the board decide to hold one. Attorney Jeremy Powers read the public-comment rules at the meeting and noted the board follows state open-meeting procedures: "In compliance with section 286.0114 of Florida statutes, the school board has adopted uniform procedures for public speakers," he said.

The board also addressed a question raised during public comment and in board discussion about an advanced-degree stipend included in district practice. Board members and the attorney said the stipend was not written into the interim contract and that human resources would handle degree stipends consistent with district policy; the dollar amount was not finalized at the meeting. Board members referenced varying recollections of the stipend amount (one member cited $7,500; another mentioned $6,000) and asked staff to provide the exact figure at a future session.

Several speakers and board members pressed for a transparent process on the permanent superintendent search. Board members proposed conducting a community survey similar to one used in a prior search to gather public input before committing to a nationwide search; the board agreed to discuss survey content and timing in upcoming work sessions. Board member Dr. Lisonbee Campbell suggested bringing back the older Ray and Associates questionnaire as a baseline and adapting it for current use.

Other topics raised during board comments included special-education funding concerns tied to pending federal changes, the need for clearer expulsion packets and participation of recommending principals in off-camera expulsion hearings, and caution about adopting site-based budgeting without broad stakeholder input and training. Several board members emphasized the district's immediate operational needs, including budgeting work that Dr. Brewer had already been involved in alongside outgoing superintendent Dr. Gullett.

Procedural actions earlier in the meeting included a board vote to extend public-comment time after ten speakers signed up; the board adjusted speaker time to five minutes each and approved the extension by voice vote, 5-0. When the board called for the motion to appoint Dr. Brewer, Reverend Cummings moved the appointment and Dr. James seconded; the motion and the subsequent employment-agreement motion both passed 5-0. The formal vote tallies recorded for the superintendent appointment and the employment agreement were unanimous: yes votes from Dr. Lisonbee Campbell (District 1), Lori Conrad (District 2), Reverend Carrie Cummings (District 3), Nancy Thrower (District 4) and Dr. Sarah James (District 5).

Board members said they expect to continue reviewing options for a permanent superintendent in the coming months, including whether to conduct a paid nationwide search firm, how to shape a community survey, and what timeline to follow. The interim contract gives the board time to make that decision while Dr. Brewer and outgoing superintendent Dr. Gullett continue a transition.

For now, the board left the district with a one-year interim appointment and a pledge from members to return to the question of a permanent search with additional community input and staff-provided details on contract items such as the degree stipend and budget implications.