A retired manager from U.S. Steel and a nursing professor from the University of Alabama threw their names in the hat for the next Hoover school board appointment today.

They are Dennis Quirk, a Ross Bridge resident who worked more than 36 years for U.S. Steel, and Stephanie Belton Turner, an assistant professor in nursing who lives in Bluff Park.

Quirk and Turner join four other applicants, bringing the total number of school board candidates to six so far. See more about Curt Posey and Jill Veitch here, and more about Ronald Bradstreet and Scarlett Naftel here.

Here's the breakdown on the two newest applicants here.

DENNIS QUIRK

Occupation: Retired U.S. Steel manager; spent 36 ½ years with the company and retired as general manager.

Education: Bachelor's degree in industrial management and economics from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Years lived in Hoover: 2 ½ years, but also nine years (1994-2003) previously.

Hoover school ties: Has an 11-year-old child at Brock's Gap Intermediate School and two 6-year-old children at Deer Valley Elementary School.

Community involvement: Board member for Hoover Softball Association; library volunteer at Deer Valley Elementary; helped start U.S. Steel outreach program to high schools and technical schools to encourage and develop higher work skills among youth in Lone Star, Texas; involved with fundraiser to help feed needy people in Minnesota.

Reason for applying: School system is facing many critical issues and he believes his extensive background in business, management, budgeting and human resources could help; he is passionate about Hoover City Schools because of his three young children; has time to invest because he is retired.

Critical issues: Hiring a qualified and engaged superintendent; managing a budget shortfall; dealing with issues surrounding busing and school rezoning.

Strengths: Passion; commitment to children and their success; love for the Hoover community and its success; business acumen; decades of experience dealing with similar issues, such as balancing budgets in difficult financial times, managing a large workforce and dealing with legislators and other elected officials; maturity; time availability; ability to deliver both good and bad messages honestly.

STEPHANIE TURNER

Occupation: Assistant professor in nursing school at University of Alabama; previously taught at Lawson State and Wallace State community college for 10 years and served as nurse for 14 years, including stints at Trinity Medical Center, UAB and Princeton Baptist Medical Center.

Education: Doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Alabama; bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing from University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Years lived in Hoover: Three.

Hoover school ties: Has 16-year-old son at Hoover High School; 13-year-old son at Simmons Middle School; and two children, ages 11 and 9, at Bluff Park Elementary School.

Community involvement: Volunteer work with the American Red Cross; a flu clinic in Tuscaloosa; a Let's Pretend Hospital at Wallace State Community College; tornado relief in Cullman and a Kick for Christ program in Cullman.

Reason for applying: To serve the community in which she lives and ensure quality education in the Hoover community.

Critical issues: Finding solutions to funding issues without compromising educational initiatives; rebuilding trust in the Hoover community with positivity and honesty; creating policies to enhance the learning opportunities of all children, including those facing poverty, learning disabilities and mental health issues.

Strengths: As a college professor, she believes she has a wonderful grasp of students' needs; great communication skills and empathy; trained to maintain respect, honesty and integrity; organization; professionalism, communication and writing skills; trained in education law, statistics, multicultural education and pediatrics; experience as a mom.

See Stephanie Belton Turner's complete application and resume.

The Hoover City Council will continue to accept applications until 5 p.m. on March 26. Hoover residents interested in applying may obtain applications on the city's website or from the Hoover city clerk's office at the Hoover Municipal Center at 100 Municipal Lane.

The City Council plans to make its appointment by April 20. Whoever is appointed will begin serving in June. School board members serve five-year terms, and the position is unpaid, except for reimbursement of expenses incurred.