Richmond's deputy superintendent for instruction is a finalist in the search for someone to lead the Memphis, Tenn., public school system.

Yvonne Brandon is one of five finalists from a field of 55 applicants selected by a national search firm, the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper reported yesterday.

A longtime leader in Richmond public schools, Brandon worked her way up from being a middle-school assistant principal in the city to become the school system's top academic officer. She was named a deputy superintendent last year.

"I'm not surprised," said School Board Vice Chairman Lisa Dawson. "Many, many people are looking at her. Anybody who isn't looking at her is crazy."

Brandon was a 2006 fellow of The Broad Academy, a 10-month program based in Los Angeles that seeks to train executives to become superintendents of city school systems.

A product of Birmingham, Ala., public schools, Brandon has a bachelor's degree in biology from Randolph-Macon College, a master's degree in guidance counseling from Virginia State University and a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University.

Brandon could not be reached immediately for comment.

She will be competing with Tiffany Anderson, superintendent of Montgomery County schools, as well as the superintendent of Buffalo, N.Y.'s school system and top school officials from Miami and Orange County, Fla., the Memphis newspaper reported. -- David Ress