A look at: Dr. Henson

Daniel Chesser-The Auburn Villager Dr. Pam Henson is the second of the three candidates interviewed to succeed Dr. Terry Jenkins.

The interview process to hire the next Auburn City Schools superintendent started Jan. 24 and will wrap up Feb. 7. Each week, The Auburn Villager will profile one of the three candidates for the position.

For the second week in a row, prominent members of the community gathered over coffee and pastries at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce Tuesday morning to interview the next candidate for the superintendent job of Auburn City Schools.

Dr. Pam Henson, Director of Instructional Support for Baldwin County Schools in Bay Minette, Ala., took to the podium to field questions and describe herself in her previous capacities in education.

Henson is a native of Baldwin County and is in her 22nd year with the Baldwin County Schools System, where she has served in a variety of roles.

"I started teaching seventh and eighth grade science in 1984 at Fairhope Middle School," Henson said. "But to know about me, you have to know all along the way I was planning and looking at my goals and trying to decide where my next move was going to be."

Henson went on to teach marine biology at Foley High School beginning in 1991 for six years while earning her a master's degree before looking at a career in administration.

Henson's past teaching experience makes her an advocate for hands-on learning and engaging students in the classroom.

As a former science teacher, she spent several years as the system's science supervisor and grant writer.

"I was very aggressive with grant writing," Henson said. "I wanted my students to have the latest and greatest product available for learning tools."

Henson is the recipient of more than 60 local, state, and national awards including 1997 Alabama Teacher of the Year and has obtained more than $5 million in grants for Baldwin County schools.

Her educational background includes a Bachelor's of Science from the University of South Alabama, a Master's of Science and Administration Certification from the University of Mobile, AA Certification from Alabama State University and a Doctoral Degree at the University of West Florida.

As the director in the Division of Instructional Support in Baldwin County since 2004, Henson is in charge of a comprehensive instructional program for about 27,000 students enrolled in grades PreK-12.

Instructional support serves the needs of the administrators and teachers by offering services and support to schools, which in turn provide the best educational programs for all students.

"One, I am not afraid of work," Henson said. "Second, my goal is to build a team of chairs with a vision and passion for education. It is of the most importance."

She is married to Tom Henson and they have one son, Joshua, who attends Auburn University.

ACS Assistant Superintendent Dennis Veronese, an internal candidate, is the last of the top three finalists to be interviewed next week.

A decision on the new superintendent is expected to be made at the Feb. 14, ACS board meeting.