LINDEN – Linden Board of Education Chair Joyce Yeager Wednesday morning released the names of the three men vying to lead the city’s school system.

They are Clarence Jackson, principal of Demopolis Middle School; Randy Thomley, principal of Winfield Elementary School and Dr. Tyrone Smith, director of The Opportunity Academy at Riggins School in the Birmingham City Schools system.

The candidates will return Friday for a closed-session interview with the Linden BOE beginning at 9 a.m. with Jackson. Smith will follow at 10 a.m. and Thomley will conclude the interviews at 11 a.m.

Yeager said Tuesday that she was hopeful the Board would extend a job offer at the conclusion of its meeting Friday.

The board is seeking to replace Superintendent of Education Scott Collier who announced his retirement earlier this year.