Superintendent Search-2019
1/31/19 Update: Finalists Selected
Launch the media gallery 1 playerThe Treynor School screened 8 semi-finalists for the district superintendent position on Wednesday, January 30th. Based on their application materials, references and screening interview the following finalists have been named:
Dr. Eric Knost - Eric currently serves as the Superintendent of Rockwood School District in St. Louis, MO. This is the third largest school district in the state of Missouri where he is responsible for the education of 21,000 students. The district was recognized state-wide as a District of Character and multiple schools have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools within the district under his leadership. Eric has led multiple successful bond issues and facilities projects in the district. His prior experience includes Superintendent experience with Mehlville School District where he previously served as the Deputy Superintendent.
Dr. Rex Anderson - Rex serves as the Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for the Gretna Public Schools in Gretna, NE. He has served in this role the last 14 years. Prior, he served the district as a middle school principal. Dr. Anderson started his career as a Spanish teacher and coach. He has also served as an education adjunct professor at University of Nebraska-Omaha. He has helped the district pass and implement 5 successful bond issues and led on-going curriculum revisions. His efforts have led to increases in teacher collaboration and improvements to student achievement scores.
Mark Hopkins - Mark currently serves as the Department Chair for K-12 Programs at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, IA. His prior experiences include serving the Lone Tree School District as the Curriculum Director/Instructional Coach and AHSTW District Superintendent. He began his education career in Farragut as an English teacher, coach and athletic director. Mr. Hopkins has over 20 years of experience working with and leading rural Iowa schools. In 2011, he was recognized by the Iowa High School Speech Association as the Administrator of the Year. In 2014, he was recognized by the Lone Tree School district with a Positive Impact Award for positively impacting the school culture and climate. He is currently working on his doctorate degree at the University of Iowa.
Formal interviews are scheduled for February 13 and will be held at the Treynor Middle/High School. The formal interviews will include a community and district tour, 2 formal interviews, and a short presentation to the school board. Stakeholders representing community members, businesses, organizations, teachers, administrators, support staff, students, and coaches will sit on the formal interview teams and are asked to provide feedback on formal interview questions asked of the finalists. If you would like to be considered as a member of the interview teams, you should contact Lou Howell (lhowell@treynorcardinals.org no later than Wednesday, February 5.
The board will consider the feedback from the interview teams in closed session on February 13th. They hope to make an offer to the successful candidate soon after and name a new district superintendent on or before Feb. 19th.
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1/25/19 Update: The Treynor Community School Board met January 24 in closed session with the search consultants, Grundmeyer Leaders Services, to review the candidates for the district superintendent position. The pool included a total of 27 applicants. Eleven applicants were from outside the state of Iowa. There were two female candidates and 8 with a doctoral degree. Six candidates in the pool had 12 or more years of central office leadership experience.
Based on a thorough review of the application materials and references, the board identified 8 candidates to move forward as semi-finalists. These candidates will be invited to a 30-minute electronic screening interview with the board in closed session on January 30th. The board will use the screening process to select 2-4 finalists, whose names will then be shared publicly.
Formal interviews are scheduled for February 13 and will be held at the Treynor Middle/High School. The formal interviews will include a community and district tour, 2 formal interviews, and a short presentation to the school board. Stakeholders invited to sit on the formal interview teams will soon be contacted and asked to provide feedback on what formal interview questions to ask the finalists. The interview teams will include representatives from the community, businesses, civic organizations, administrators, students, parents, teachers, coaches, booster clubs, and support staff.
The board will consider in closed session all of the feedback from the interview teams on February 13th. They hope to make an offer to the successful candidate soon after and name a new district superintendent on or before February 19th.
The following are key dates that were put in place by the Board of Directors earlier this year:
- November 16: The position was posted on TeachIowa by Lou Howell. Other postings were completed by Grundmeyer Leaders search firm.
- January 6: Deadline for all applications.
- January 24: Closed board session to enable board to determine a short list of candidates for digital interviews.
- January 30: Closed board session to complete digital interviews, followed by determination of 2-4 finalists to be interviewed.
- February 13: Formal interviews with teams representing students, teachers, staff, administrators, community members, and board members.
- February 13: Closed board session followed by an open session to review the formal interviews and determine the new superintendent.