The Winn Parish School Board voted Thursday, Aug. 7, to elect Dr. Troy Bell as superintendent following the upcoming December retirement of Al Simmons. Bell, currently the assistant superintendent in Franklin Parish, was chosen over fellow prospect Denise Young, special education supervisor in Grant Parish, through a roll-call vote during that evening’s special session.
Though three applicants were accepted before the deadline, John Thompson of Atkins, Arkansas, withdrew, leaving Bell and Young as the remaining contenders. Board members followed a structured interview process led by board attorney, Jon Guice, to ensure fairness, with each member allowed to ask the same two questions of both candidates. After each candidate completed their interviews, the board entered executive session to debate the acceptance of a potential successor. Voting took place upon their return, with the board selecting Bell by an 8-3 margin.
Bell and Young each brought more than two decades of education experience and a focus on financial stability, academic growth, and community engagement. Bell, who manages multimillion-dollar budgets through the Federal Programs Department and reduced Franklin Parish’s general fund budget by $1.4 million without layoffs, emphasized increasing student enrollment, retaining smaller rural schools and aligning resources to support teachers. Young, a National Board Certified and versatile educator who has served as a teacher, principal and district administrator in nearly every Winn-based school, stressed improving reading and state assessment scores, streamlining operations and enhancing transparency in budgeting. Both highlighted the importance of collaboration, teacher support and building strong relationships with the public.
The board will discuss and draft the terms of the contract for Bell and present it at the next meeting. The board was reminded that the contract is theirs, no one else’s, and they can make changes if needed. Both candidates were praised for their qualifications, and Bell thanked the board for its confidence, saying he looks forward to becoming part of the community. The meeting concluded with no further public comments.
