FLEMING ISLAND – As promised from the Dec. 15 school board meeting, Clay County School Superintendent Addison Davis has released the names of his core staff.

The school board will vote to approve the list of candidates at tonight’s school board meeting at 6 p.m. at the Teacher Training Center at Fleming Island High.

Davis is naming Terri Dennis his chief of staff at $81,000 per year and will serve as a liaison between Davis and the board. Dennis was Davis’ specialist when he served as chief of schools in Duval County.

Davis also named Nicole Snyder coordinator of communications and media partnership at a salary of $75,000. Snyder will come to the position after having worked as a reporter for Jacksonville television station WJXT, Channel 4.

Davis also named Michael Kerekes coordinator of strategic planning and community partnership, a new position that has a salary of $81,000. In December, Davis said he wants that person to help with initiative projects, “develop and drive a strategic plan” and “keep a goal-based management system.”

Kerekes, an attorney and son of School Board Chair Janice Kerekes, also worked on Davis’ campaign.

Janice Kerekes didn’t answer or return calls from Clay Today by the time of this article’s online publication (Thursday, January 5). However, board member Ashley Gilhousen spoke with Clay Today about the issue over the phone.

“The statutes are pretty clear that when the superintendent takes office, he or she can hire whom they want,” Gilhousen said.

When directly asked about Kerekes and the hiring of her son, Gilhousen said, “I’m not going to comment on that right now.”

Calls to Davis, Board Chair Kerekes and Board Member Betsy Condon were un-returned as of online publication Thursday. Davis’ office promised a return call at some point in the day or this evening at the scheduled school board meeting.

Other positions Davis filled are:

Kathleen Moeller, director of professional development, school improvement and assessment.

Michael Kemp, who is currently serving as assistant superintendent for information services in the Bibb County, Georgia School District, is to be named as the new assistant superintendent of operations. Kemp, who holds a doctorate in education, began his education career as a teacher at Jacksonville’s Arlington Middle school in August 1989. His salary will be $127,000. He will replace John Merrill, the assistant superintendent for support services, who will be retiring in a month.

Michael McAuley will be named the new position of assistant superintendent of climate and culture for an annual salary of $137,500, is another point of emphasis for Davis.

“The biggest thing Clay County can focus on is the well-being of our staff, attention to strategies, our support services, exceptional student education, psychologists,” Davis said Dec. 15. “We really need to change our dynamics to focus on positive support versus being reactive. In this position, I want someone who really understands our school improvement model to gain access to our kids and train our teachers to be successful with them.”

Theresa Stahlman will be the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. Stahlman, who has a doctorate, is currently serving as principal of Ruth N. Upson Elementary in Jacksonville’s Murray Hill community. No info was given for this salary.