The Rochester City School District will be reaching out to the public next week in the search for a new superintendent.
Barbara Deane-Williams is resigning at the end of the month. School Board President Van White says the district hired a search firm to take notes at the upcoming community forums, and he says the notes from the forums will be used to write the job description.
White thinks residents already have a good idea of what they want in a superintendent.
“When they come to the forums, one of the things they’ll say is that they want someone with a broad vision of success toward students. A superintendent that has some idea even in advance of coming to this district of what it would take to bring that kind of success to our students,” White told WXXI News.
White says he does not want to prejudge candidates before the applications come in because he says “talent and vision comes at all levels.” He says that means that potential candidates don’t necessarily need prior experience leading a school district in order to be selected for the Rochester superintendent position.
“People want a person with vast experience,” White said. “But I think there are some other traits that don’t necessarily end up on a CV or resume that they’ll be looking for as well.”
He says traits like being a good manager, knowing how to motivate people and working in a large urban district are all important. White says teaching experience is also welcome.
The community forums are scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 29th at East High School, 1801 East Main Street and on Wednesday, Jan. 30th Joseph C. Wilson Commencement Academy at 501 Genesee Street. Both meetings start at 6:30 p.m.
Dan Lowengard is going to be the Interim Superintendent until the district finds a permanent hire, which is expected to happen by the end of the school year.
