School Receives 14 Applications For Superintendent Job

WATER VALLEY – The Mississippi School Boards Association (MSBA) reported in a meeting with the Water Valley School District Board of Trustees on Monday, March 8 that 16 inquiries were made and 14 applications received by the February 12 deadline in the search for a new superintendent of the district. MSBA Executive Director Michael W. Waldrop, Ph.D. and search consultant E. Harold Fisher, Ph.D., presented the association’s findings to the board.

    Applicants for the position include two former superintendents, one assistant superintendent, three school principals, a curriculum director, two federal program coordinators, three special education directors, a college faculty member and one classroom teacher.  Half of the applicants have doctorate degrees.

    The search process began with a meeting of stakeholders in the Water Valley School District on November 10, providing an opportunity for the Water Valley community to have a voice in the criteria needed for the new superintendent. Board members used a compilation of the stakeholders’ suggestions as they made a final decision on the criteria for screening and selecting Water Valley’s next superintendent.

    A brochure announcing the vacancy and credentials needed by candidates was posted to the MSBA website on January 9, 2010, along with an application for the position. MSBA also distributed copies of the brochure to 401 school districts, colleges and schools of education, and administrator preparation programs.

    Further publicity of the superintendent position was through publication in the MSBA newsletter — the MSBA UPDATE — which has a circulation of more than 1,500 including national and regional education leaders. Contacts were made with representative of the National Association of Superintendent Searches as well.

– Mississippi School Boards Association news release