The Search for a New Superintendent

What Happens when Paul Vallas Leaves?

As Recovery School District (RSD) Superintendent Paul Vallas nears the end of his second two-year contract, it is hard not to think of what (or whom) the future may hold for the school district currently operating the largest number of public schools in Orleans Parish. The next leader of the RSD will have the enormous responsibility of turning around the lowest performing schools and shaping the direction of public education in New Orleans. Selecting a new superintendent is certainly no small task. We wanted to share an excellent report from education experts in Washington state that outlines a brief set of guidelines for the search process as well as common characteristics and qualifications that are of importance in finding a high-performing district leader.

The Search
The search for a new superintendent of the RSD must involve the community, parents, students, citizen, and staff, and must begin as soon as Superintendent Vallas publicly announces his intended departure.  This report by the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) estimates a time frame of about four months from the start of the search to the signing of the employment contract.  To have a new superintendent in place before the start of the upcoming fiscal year, this means the process should begin in March.

The WSSDA report can be an excellent resource for the New Orleans community as well as state leaders as they eventually search for a new RSD superintendent.  It walks districts through the initial decision to seek new leadership through recruitment, interviews, and contract negotiations.  But besides outlining the procedures that should result in the selection of the best candidate, it offers information on what the characteristics and experience of a quality candidate are.

Characteristics and Qualifications
The WSSDA report lists a number of personal characteristics that are common across the reports and input collected by districts as they search for a new leader.  Some of those most common personal traits are:

• A pattern of dealing with people honestly;
• Skill in communicating clearly and understandably;
• A friendly, approachable manner;
• Flexibility;
• Willingness to take a calculated risk;
• Common sense and good judgment;
• Respect and concern for others; and
• Ability to earn trust and extend trust to others.

There are also definitive categories of qualifications that should be considered when assessing an applicant for the superintendent position.  Those areas are:

• Experience in educational programs;
• Communications and community relations;
• Leadership skills;
• Decision-making skills;
• Experience in district level administration;
• Budget leadership; and
• Ability to have a quality relationship with the board.

The WSSDA report goes into detail on the questions that should be asked of the candidates in each area to determine how fit they are for the position and is definitely worth a read.  For example, in the area of communications and community relations, has the candidate been successful in media relations?  Has the applicant demonstrated success in speaking with groups of various sizes?  Has he or she been successful in working with diverse groups and in facilitating group processes?  These are all important questions for the New Orleans community and state leaders to consider.

As 2010 winds to a close, and with it only a few months remaining on RSD Superintendent Paul Vallas’ second two-year contract, New Orleans and the rest of the state must begin seriously thinking about selecting the next leader of the RSD.

Let us know in the comments what you think the most important characteristics and qualifications are for the next RSD superintendent.