By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

HOOVER—After a long application and interview process, the Hoover Board of Education chose Tina Hancock to take the helm of the city school system’s finances. Hancock will take the chief school financial officer position after current CSFO Cathy Antee retires at the end of the month.

Hancock comes to Hoover from the Jackson County School System, where she has served as CSFO since 2011. Although the Jackson County School System is significantly smaller, serving roughly 6,000 students compared to Hoover’s student body of nearly 14,000, Hancock has dealt with budget problems similar to those currently facing Hoover Schools.

“She’s prepared,” Hoover BOE President Derrick Murphy said. “Coming from a school system where you have challenges with funding, you have to be very creative.”

In addition to Hancock, the BOE also interviewed former Birmingham City Schools CSFO Arthur Watts Jr. and current Jefferson County Schools CSFO Sheila Jones as finalists for the position.

“We interviewed, in my opinion, the three top CSFOs in Alabama,” Murphy said.

Hancock’s experience as a classroom teacher separated her from the other two candidates during the decision making process, Murphy said.

Hancock is a national board certified teacher and has 15 years of experience as a classroom teacher with both the Jackson County and Scottsboro City school systems.

“What separated her is she had time as a classroom teacher,” Murphy said. “Her understanding of what’s going on in schools…that’s very important when you start talking about budgets.”

Along with classroom experience, Murphy noted Hancock’s background in technology.

“We are a technology-driven global market. Our boundaries are not just the state of Alabama,” Murphy said, noting the diversity in the school system. “I’m proud that she’s on board.”