Deadline Friday to Apply for Superintendent of Joplin Schools - KOAM TV 7

          A firm helping coordinate the superintendent search in Joplin reports thirty people have already applied and twenty more applications are in the works.
           

          On Tuesday, at Irving elementary, first graders colored math sheets while a teacher worked with a student on number identification.  Success with student achievement and someone who is a proven leader is what the school board hopes to find in a new superintendent.

School Board President Jeff Koch said, "You can look at data points. Some of those are your students grade point average,  the number of students they’ve been working with, the number of teachers and staff, turnover rate at their institution is a good one to look at.  Usually if you have a really strong leader, that’s very well respected  in the community environment there, your turnover actually goes down."

Ray and Associates, working for the district surveyed parents, students and the community and posted the top eleven qualifications wanted in candidates for superintendent on the application site. And one quality stood out with all groups.
Dr. Brenda Dietrich with the search firm said, “It was a very strong message that, that’s the most important quality in the next  superintendent: inspiring trust, self-confidence and able to  model high standards."
How do you measure those?  The search firm will narrow the expected  list of fifty applicants down to ten or fifteen.  And then will conduct background checks.

Dietrich said,"So, a lot of it is not  depending on the candidate to tell us,’Yes, I can do that.’  It’s the people that have worked with the candidates.  Did you see that? Did you observe it?  What kind of things  did the candidate do that led you to believe they could build confidence and trust  in the district?  And they’re a strong decision maker or communicator?"

While credentials listed include having an Ed.d  or PhD, a doctorate in education, the board will also be highly considering experience.

Koch said, "What we're looking for is somebody who has experience in a system  where there's empowerment, where there’s let’s  say a bottom up approach. It’s gonna be a collaborative effort."

Koch said they want a candidate who lines up with the district mentally and not one who charts a new course because the district already has a new five year strategic plan.
 

The superintendent salary is listed at one hundred eighty thousand dollars.
          The board meets October 11th to review applicants and  select three to five candidates for one-on-one interviews.
          The hope is to announce a new superintendent by December 2016.