The Los Alamos School Board listens as committee chairs report on what their groups would like to see in a new school superintendent. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.comStanley Paz of recruitment firm Ray and Associates Tucson office was in Los Alamos last week to gather community input for the search for a new superintendent for Los Alamos Public Schools. Superintendent Gene Schmidt will be leaving the district in July.
In addition to meeting with the School Board and with the six search advisory committees that have been set up to gather input from various stakeholders, a series of four Town Hall Meetings and an online survey helped to gather citizen input for the search. The meetings focused on both what Los Alamos wants in a superintendent and what Los Alamos has to offer an outstanding candidate.
The School Board heard from committee chairs and others and summed up what was learned at Thursday’s School Board Meeting at Los Alamos High School. Several Board Members said that the many different constituencies representatives had remarkably similar qualifications in mind for the perfect superintendent candidate. One common concern was expressed by parent Bill Hargreaves at Thursday morning’s Town Hall meeting.
“I’d like someone to come here who has a different idea of success,” he said. “Success should be tied up with the success of the entire student body.” Hargreaves said he wants someone who is invested in the 80 percent of students who are not super achievers as well as the 20 percent who are.
Karyl Ann Armbruster was among those who expressed her opinions on the ideal candidate for Los Alamos School Superintendent at Thursday’s Town Hall Meeting. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
Retired teacher Karyl Ann Armbruster said the new superintendent must be able to deal with “extreme teacher unhappiness.” Finding and keeping good teachers will be a challenge, she said.
Many people said the superintendent should be someone who is comfortable asking questions and taking advice, as well as having strong leadership skills.
Another important qualification expressed many times was willingness to be a part of the community and work with community organizations as well as with the County and with Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Community Leaders Committee Chair Bill Wadt gives his report to the School Board. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com
Bill Wadt, chair of the Community Leaders Committee said his group echoed some of the sentiments expressed in the public meetings. In addition, he said his committee wanted someone who was a good judge of character and able to delegate efficiently. He also said the candidate should be skilled in politics. In spite of the many qualifications he or she will have, the candidate must be humble, Wadt said.
“The person should model a culture of life-long learning,” Wadt said.
Several of the committee chairs mentioned their committees felt that classroom experience was an essential qualification, but having a Ph.D. should not be a firm requirement.
Parents Committee Chair Ashley Mamula reports to the School Board. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com
Ashley Mamula, who chaired the Parents Committee said her group wanted someone who would be an advocate for every child and for teachers and staff as well. Communication and engagement were important qualification also, she said.
Chair of the Classified Employees Committee Doug Weiss gives his committee report. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com
Bus driver Doug Weiss chaired the Classified Employees Committee. He said his group thought upper level management experience was an important qualification. Other group chairs echoed the sentiments expressed by others.
“A common vision seems to be emerging,” Board Vice-President Kevin Honnell said.
Ray and Associates will now work on creating advertisements that will spell out what Los Alamos has to offer as well as what the District seeks in a superintendent.
Ads will go live around Dec. 2. The Board set January 23 as the closing date for the position. They hope to interview finalists in February and have a decision by the end of the month.
The Board agreed to offer a salary of approximately $170,000, depending on the qualifications of the candidate, in a unanimous vote. An advertising budget of $7,000 was approved.
Follow the superintendent search at https:////laschools.net/SuperintendentSearch.
