JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --  The national search for Duval County's next superintendent of schools ends at midnight, with 11 people so far applying for the job.

On Monday, the district's chief operating officer Doug Ayars said he will apply for the job. He is the only internal candidate who has applied.

The other candidates who submitted resumes and applications have various degrees of experience in education. James Williams from Buffalo, New York applied for the job after resigning from the Buffalo school system, where he held the top job for six years.

McPherson & Jacobson is handling the national search from its headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. When reached Monday, the company said it will not have a firm number on the total number of applicants until Tuesday afternoon.

The Duval County School Board is working to replace current Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals, who is retiring in December.

First Coast News