Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 16, 1993 TAG: 9310160279
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURA WILLIAMSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
He or she should possess high ethical standards, sense of humor, common sense, courage, intelligence, pragmatism, creativity, ability to lead and commitment to academic excellence.
What's more, applicants should be able to support, empower and delegate to staff members, be strong advocates for public education and for extra-curricular activities and be able to forge strong business partnerships.
They should be involved, articulate and visible. Concerned for the welfare of all children. Open-minded. Able to communicate.
Not only that, the county's new superintendent should understand - in depth - school finance, budgeting and business operations.
"That is quite a tall list," School Board Chairman Frank Thomas told the 10-member citizens' advisory committee that presented it Thursday night.
"I can't think of anything to add," board member Charlsie Pafford said.
So the board approved it, clerk Ruth Wade reproduced it, and off it went in Friday's mail attached to a four-page document advertising the job opening.
After 13 years under Superintendent Bayes Wilson, who plans to retire June 30, Roanoke County needs someone to fill his shoes.
They'll be looking all over the country to find that person.
Wade mailed copies of the application and job requirements to 438 people nationwide. She sent copies to all division superintendents and college education-department deans in Virginia.
She mailed them to the executive directors of school board associations throughout the United States, to executive directors of U.S. superintendent associations and to people who subscribe to a list of superintendent job vacancies.
Now, said Thomas, comes the easiest part of the process - waiting.
Applications are due on or before Dec. 15. The advisory committee - made up of parents, teachers, school personnel and business and community leaders - will review them and whittle the names to a "short list," which it will present to the School Board in mid-January. It's then up to the board to conduct interviews and make a decision by the end of February.
"If we find someone with all those qualifications, we'll have the best person in the country," Thomas said.
by CNB