THE FINALISTS

Joel Boyd of Santa Fe is one of six finalists to head the public school system in Nashville, Tenn. Here is a list of his competitors, according to the Nashville Tennessean, the city’s daily newspaper.

Jesus Jara — supervises the teaching department of the Orange County Public Schools in Florida.

Shawn Joseph — deputy superintendent of schools in Prince George’s County, Md.

Brad Leon — chief of strategy and innovation in Shelby County Schools, which includes Memphis, Tenn.

H. Allen Smith — second in command of the Oakland Unified School District in California.

Kenneth Zeff — interim superintendent of the Fulton County, Ga., schools.