WJCC Posts Job Ad For Next Superintendent

By Amber Lester Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Applicants hoping to fill the vacant superintendent position in Williamsburg-James City County have until Oct. 15 to apply.

The WJCC School Board drafted a job posting on Sept. 20, establishing criteria based on feedback from citizens through a survey and a public forum hosted last week at Lafayette High School. The job ad was posted on school administration sites, such as Education Week’s job site and the Virginia School Board Association (VSBA) site. More than 800 copies of the job description and application were mailed to superintendents throughout Virginia and to state boards of education across the nation.

Applicants have until Oct. 15 to apply; on Oct. 21, the board will begin reviewing applications and conducting interviews. A candidate must be selected by late December.

In its job ad, the board lists the following qualifications as most desirable in the next superintendent:

• Demonstrates the ability to improve student performance for all groups of students.

• Creates an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect through open communication with all stakeholders.

• Is an articulate spokesperson and strong advocate for public education.

• Is experienced in managing district resources and has knowledge of sound fiscal procedures.

The board also wants candidates with prior experience as superintendents and strongly prefers candidates with doctoral degrees. The candidate must also agree to move to Williamsburg or James City County.

The salary for the position, which oversees the education of more than 10,000 students, is listed as commensurate with experience. Acting Superintendent Scott Burckbuchler, who has said he plans to apply (read more here), is currently being compensated a salary of $150,000, plus $10,000 in car expenses.

The desired characteristics came from the results of a survey, posted online and available in schools, that was completed 450 times, according to division spokesperson Greg Davy. Eighty-four percent of the surveys came from James City County residents, 8 percent from Williamsburg residents and a little more than 8 percent from residents outside the district. Of the respondents, 50 percent were parents in the division, 16.9 percent were teachers and 13 percent were school employees. The remaining survey participants were social or civic organization members, school administrators, Parent-Teacher Association members or others who didn’t fit any of those categories.

A majority of survey takers felt the next superintendent should have a doctorate, previous experience as a superintendent, experience as an administrator, teaching experience and experience working in Virginia. The three most desired traits for a superintendent were a visionary, creative thinker, a team player and a decisive leader. Citizens also want a superintendent who is an accessible, good listener, consistent and confident.

When working with the board, the next superintendent should assume a lead role in decision-making, while keeping the board informed, according to results. Citizens would also like to see the superintendent lead the board in goal-setting and provide options and recommendations before accepting board directives. The next superintendent should create an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect among staff, according to 56.4 percent of survey takers, and should effectively advocate school issues and needs.

The community would like the next superintendent to explain his or her rationale for the budget before the board and public, and an equal amount of survey takers want to see the superintendent lobby for school funding on behalf of the division.

The job of the superintendent should be focused on curriculum and instruction, school reform and budget and finance, according to survey results. More than 70 percent of survey takers ranked school planning and construction and development of multi-cultural programs as less important than other parts of the job.

The community still has a chance to weigh in on what skills and background desires in the next superintendent. A group of education advocates called Citizens for Education will host a community conversation about the search for the next superintendent at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Lafayette High School.