Tupelo Public School District Superintendent Search

SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH PROCESS 2008

The search for a replacement for retiring Superintendent of Schools Dr. Randy McCoy was announced and begun in December of 2007. Dr. McCoy will retire at the end of June 2009, and the School Board plans to announce his replacement by December of 2008.

The first step in the process was to research professional search firms who would assist the Board of Trustees with this significant task, and invite work proposals from a select group. After careful consideration, the Board chose to contract with Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates. Dr. Art Jones and Dr. Diana McCauley serve as the liaison consultants from the firm assigned to our district.

The next step in the process was to involve all stakeholders in the development of a Leadership Profile Report and Criteria for Hiring. Through a widely dispersed survey instrument and two and a half days of targeted focus group sessions with hundreds of community and staff members, the consultants culled broad and representative information which was distilled into a comprehensive report available on the Tupelo School website (located under “Superintendent Search” heading on the home page).

Using these instruments, the consulting group is charged with the task of advertising, recruiting, receiving, reviewing, and assessing all applications for the superintendent position. Based on their knowledge of our district’s stated priorities, the consultants will bring a select group of candidates to the School Board for initial interviews in mid-November 2008.

The Board of Trustees of the Tupelo Public School District is charged with the responsibility of selecting and appointing the Superintendent of Schools. While adhering to the stated policy, the Board resolves to uphold the beliefs and operating principles from the district’s strategic plan as we move forward in the superintendent search process. We feel that it is in the best interest of the school district and the community to establish a Search Advisory Committee to work with the Board and offer broad guidance to help the Board make the selection of superintendent. It is important that the members of the Committee understand their role and responsibility so as to be effective in their work. The Advisory Committee will be asked to offer counsel and guidance as to their perceptions of the specific strengths and weaknesses of the candidates. The Committee will not rank or recommend specific candidates.

To prepare for their work, Committee members will review the Leadership Profile Report and the Criteria document developed after review of broad community input. They will attend an orientation/education session to receive an overview of the search process and the Search Advisory Committee’s role, and to be apprised of the District’s recently updated Strategic Plan. In addition, they will hear from and interact with Dr. Thomas Payzant, a nationally recognized education consultant, retired Boston Public Schools superintendent and professor in the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He will share his insights relative to current educational issues and trends, and the influence of leadership in relation to these topics. (October 6th, Hancock Leadership Center). The Tupelo School Board appreciates the Community Development Foundation’s support in bringing Dr. Payzant to Tupelo. The Committee will participate in an interview workshop and work with the search consultants to develop a candidate interview script reflective of the interests and expectations of its membership. This session will be held the day before the first round of interviews (November 13th).

Each of the candidates has been assured of full and complete confidentiality by the consultants, Consequently Committee members will be expected to sign a Confidentiality/Non-Disclosure Agreement.
 
The Committee will act as a parallel interview group to the School Board during the initial round of candidate interviews on November 14th and 15th, and provide individual written observations and perceptions to the Board. After their final interview, Committee members will meet with the search consultant to discuss the slate of candidates and put the interviews into context. The group will choose one or two representatives to act as spokesperson/s to meet with the School Board and share any further insight as to overall perceptions of the candidates. Upon thoughtful consideration of this input, the School Board will narrow the candidate pool to two finalists. The Search Advisory Committee, as well as members of the Search Communication Network (see below), will be invited to attend receptions for each of the finalists on November 19th and 20th. These events will allow the candidates a chance to get to know community members, and for a broader constituency group to be introduced to the potential superintendents. An opportunity for attendees’ written comments will be provided at the conclusion of the receptions. This input will be considered as the School Board makes a final decision.

The Search Advisory Committee will consist of:
*One district level administrator, as chosen by that constituency
*One school principal, as chosen by that constituency
*One school teacher, as chosen by that constituency
*Two representatives chosen by CDF, one of whom is a minority
*One minority representative, chosen by the NAACP
*Tupelo City Council President Dick Hill (confirmed)
*One representative of AEE, as chosen by that group
*One representative of Parent Forum, as chosen by that group
* One representative of the Citizens for Public Schools, as chosen by that group
*Additionally, one School Board member will serve as ex-officio liaison for the Advisory Committee. This Board member will not be present during Advisory Committee candidate interviews.

The School Board will appoint a Search Communication Network Committee to facilitate information sharing during the search process and act as an official conduit for two-way communication. This group will consist of forty or so members, including a parent and staff person from each school site, as well as diverse community members. The leader of this group will be the Chairman of the District Communication Committee. The SCNC will be invited to attend an informational community forum on the evening of October 6th to hear a presentation and participate in a discussion with Dr. Tom Payzant, the national education consultant brought in to work with the School Board and Search Advisory Committee. They will review the Leadership Profile and Criteria information posted on the school website under the Superintendent Search page. They will be sent pertinent information as available, and will be invited to attend receptions on November 19 and 20 to meet the finalists for the superintendent position. After meeting the candidates, they may offer written comments to the Board which will be considered in the final decision process.

The School Board will ensure that full background checks will be completed on finalists, and will travel to the home school/s of the finalist/s to confirm their decision prior to announcement. Announcement of the new superintendent is anticipated at the first Board meeting in December of 2008.

Sincerely,

Shawn Brevard
President, Board of Trustees