The Clawson School Board on Thursday evening selected Monique Beels and Gerald Jennex as finalists for the superintendent position after spending three nights interviewing candidates this week.

It wasn't an easy decision for the school board members who spent about an hour discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each of the four candidates. Beels had interviewed before the board voted on Thursday while Jennex and Catherine Cost and Terry Urquhart interviewed earlier in the week.  

Beels and Jennex are "the two candidates who can hit the ground running," school board member Joseph Bedford said.

Beels is currently the assistant superintendent of curriculum for Grosse Pointe Public Schools and Jennex is the superintendent of Capac Community Schools.

Mike Wilmot, of the Michigan Leadership Institute, facilitated the voting process after the board heard comments from audience members. Clawson hired Wilmot in February to assist with the superintendent search process.

All of the candidates met with 3-4 students this week before their interviews and the students also selected Beels and Jennex as their top choices.

“I was just most touched by the energy and passion of Monique (Beels)," Schalm teacher Amy Carpenter said at the interview.

"I really like Jerry’s (Jennex) energy, I like his experience, I like his willingness to get down in the dirt with everybody," school board member Jessica Back said.

What's Next?

There will be informal dinner interviews for Beels and Jennex on April 24 and April 25 at 7 p.m. in the Clawson High School media center. The interviews are open to the public.

On May 1 and May 2, a group of 6-8 members of the Clawson school community will visit the school districts of Beels and Jennex. The board hopes to make a final decision by its May 14 meeting.