Position Description for Poway Unified School District, San Diego, California

The Board of Education of the Poway Unified School District, San Diego, California, is seeking a highly qualified, fully certified, educational leader to serve as Superintendent. The Board wishes to have the successful candidate assume the responsibilities of the position, October 14, 2024.

McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C., Executive Recruitment and Development, in collaboration with the California School Boards Association, has been engaged as the consultant in a search for outstanding candidates. They will assist the Board of Education in identifying and screening the candidates.

Enrollment: 35,000

Location: Northern San Diego County, California

The Qualifications

The candidate must have the background, skills, and abilities essential for excellence in educational leadership. The Board recognizes that selecting a superintendent is one of the most important decisions it will make. The Board developed the following desired characteristics.

Key Criteria: Integrity, Visionary: Instructional Leader, Teambuilder: Brings People Together

• A high integrity leader that is an effective collaborator and communicator. One who has strong verbal, written, and digital communication skills and is accessible to all. The superintendent must be a team builder who is able to bring people together in unity, establishing trusting, transparent, inclusive, and respectful relationships with the Board, administration, staff, students, and community. Specifically, the superintendent must be skilled at keeping the Board informed in a timely manner, understand the role of the Board, and engage them in collaborative decision-making and other efforts that continually strengthen the governance team.

• An educational leader who has the proven ability to develop the Poway Unified School District and promote a vision for the district that focuses on student excellence and achievement. Poway Unified School District is looking for an educator who must be knowledgeable and current in curriculum and has demonstrated the ability to work with staff in developing a PK-12 articulated curriculum. The next superintendent must know the best practices in teaching and learning, be able to implement effective curriculum and instruction, assist in the selection of purposeful professional development, and employ systems of assessment that all result in increased achievement for all students.

• A strategic manager who demonstrates vision, operational expertise and the ability to implement long-range educational and fiscal plans that benefit students. A strong team builder who empowers other leaders by working collaboratively, developing their knowledge and skills, appropriately delegating tasks and responsibilities, building leadership and promotional opportunities from within, and providing professional development and guidance for all staff. A leader who ensures that there are systems of evaluation for self and all employees that provide professional feedback and accountability on a regular basis. A person who is an influential problem solver in the arenas of fiscal management, Special Education, collective bargaining, facilities, and other operational functions of the District. Cabinet level experience preferred.

Salary: Negotiable

Search Timeline:

• Closing date for applications: August 31, 2024 (11:30 p.m. central time)
• Board of Education selects finalists to interview: September 9, 2024
• Interviews with the Board of Education: September 21 & 22, 2024
• Selection of new Superintendent: October 10, 2024
• Start date: October 14, 2024

Contact information:

McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C.

11725 Arbor Street, Suite 220

Omaha, NE 68144

888-375-4814

Email: apps@macnjake.com

School Website: http://www.powayusd.com

Candidates are asked not to contact (directly or otherwise) board members. Any effort to do so may eliminate them from consideration. Names of applicants will be held in strict confidence whenever possible; however, McPherson & Jacobson complies with individual states’ Freedom of Information laws. In the final process, the school board may visit the district where the candidate is employed but will not proceed without the knowledge and consent of the candidate.

Anyone that is aware of any potential candidate is requested to refer them to the search website and consultants for more information.

Consultants Mr. Ben Johnson b_johnson@macnjake.com

Dr. Julie Vitale j_vitale@macnjake.com

The Poway Unified School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The district does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability and, when needed, will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees. Anyone requesting a reasonable accommodation in the application or recruitment process please contact McPherson & Jacobson at the address/phone/email above.