WCS Board Appoints Leigh Webb as Interim Superintendent

The Williamson County Schools Board approved the temporary appointment of Leigh Webb as superintendent.  

The meeting came just days after Superintendent Jason Golden’s surprise resignation after he accepted a job with Franklin Special Schools. The board approved the mutual termination of Superintendent Jason Golden’s contract during a special-called June 29 meeting.

“Your work has never been about you,” Chairman Josh Brown told Golden. “It's been about the kids. It's been about the system as a whole, been about the community. I think everyone who knows you has seen that you're held in high regard. You're a person of integrity. You always seek to do the right thing, and even when there's disagreement, you've found a way to get to a common ground and try to make it work, and I think that's all that anybody can ask for.” 

Golden said it was "wise" to make the transition in the middle of the summer rather than wait until just a couple of days before students start classes. He added that he “strongly” recommends Webb to take on the role, calling her “as good as they come.”

Webb began her career with WCS in 2004 as a Franklin High School English teacher, and has served as the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools since 2018. She will begin serving in the interim role on July 15, with an annual salary of $295,0000. That is up from the initial offer of $257,000 following a unanimous vote by the board.

“I intend to go full speed ahead, shoulder to shoulder with great people who are already in this school district doing the good work,” Webb told the board. “My focus at this time isn't on the long-term superintendency. It's in the interim superintendent.”

Webb’s contract expires on Oct. 5 due to state law related to the Aug. 6 election, an election that will see significant changes to the makeup of the board. The new board will then have the ability to vote to extend Webb’s contract if it desires. 

The board also approved the first steps to find the next permanent superintendent by way of a Superintendent Search Advisory Committee, which Brown said will see the appointment of community leaders and stakeholders over the coming weeks.

While few details are available about the committee at this time, it will be limited to no more than six of the 12 WCS Board members.

The appointed members will also be limited to advising and making recommendations to the board about what they are looking for in a new superintendent candidate, but will not be a part of the actual interviewing and hiring process.

“I think community input is critical in this process. This is a very important decision for this district, one that will be made after I'm no longer on this board, but one that I think deserves a process that starts now, where the thought is put into this, and where the right people are around the table,” Brown said. 

“My commitment is that over the next few weeks I will begin this process and keep you informed of where we are with that.”