NEW ALABAMA SUPERINTENDENT NAMED

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – Education consultant Michael Sentance, a former education adviser to the governor of Massachusetts, will be Alabama’s next superintendent of education.

The Alabama Board of Education named Sentance to the post Thursday morning.

Board members went through several rounds of voting before deciding on Sentance by a narrow margin. He won the position with five votes. Jefferson County Superintendent Craig Pouncey was the next highest vote-getter with four votes.

Sentance has worked for the U.S. Department of Education, serving as the secretary’s representative for the New England States. He previously served as senior education adviser to the governor of Massachusetts.

Gov. Robert Bentley said that he believes Sentance can help make positive changes in Alabama schools.

The board began searching for a new superintendent after Tommy Bice retired in March.