One of your most important decisions
Selecting a new superintendent is among the most significant decisions a school board ever makes. Finding and hiring the right chief executive for your leadership team is critical to the success of your students and your district.

WSSDA’s superintendent search service will help your board choose the best superintendent for your district. We offer a comprehensive, integrated process that fully supports your board in recruiting quality candidates and selecting the right person to carry out the board’s vision and goals.

Laying the foundation
WSSDA’s superintendent search service is structured to allow the board to focus its efforts on the most important aspect of hiring a new superintendent — the interview and selection of the right candidate. Our team of consultants, working in conjunction with the board, will take care of the critical action steps that lay the groundwork for a successful hiring process:

• Identifying the qualities your board wants in a superintendent
• Assessing the expectations of your community
• Developing appropriate promotional materials
• Advertising the position
• Developing the application procedures
• Actively recruiting quality candidates on your behalf
• Screening candidates and doing reference checks
• Developing interview procedures and appropriate interview questions
• Establishing interview and visitation schedules
• Establishing annual performance objectives for the new superintendent
• Providing six-month and one-year evaluations of the new superintendent

Recruiting quality candidates
WSSDA’s superintendent search service will help you identify and recruit top-quality candidates. We work solely for you — the locally elected school board. We do not represent candidates. Once the board has decided the skills, qualities and characteristics the new superintendent should possess, we actively recruit candidates who meet your identified criteria.

Our consultants are constantly on the alert for good candidates. They follow the careers of promising administrators. They have expert knowledge of the candidates, especially those located in Washington state.

Why use WSSDA search services?
With WSSDA’s superintendent search service, your board is assured of a thorough, professional process that is crafted to assist you from start to finish. We recruit high-quality candidates who fit your goals and objectives, we guide you through the interview and selection process, and we equip you with performance evaluation tools. Other factors to consider:

• Our consultants can get information about candidates because of their state and national network and credibility to tap into that network. They are more likely to learn sensitive information about candidates from references and other sources.
• Our service provides an unbiased selection process. The consultant is an outside person who has no vested interest and works only for the board of directors.
• WSSDA’s consultants are Washington-based and thoroughly understand state laws pertaining to the hiring process. They use a search process that avoids legal pitfalls and strategic errors.

Information and Assistance
For more information regarding WSSDA’s superintendent search service or other programs to assist school boards and districts, call 360.252.3018 (toll-free 800.562.8927) or send us an e-mail.

WSSDA Staff Contact:
Marilee Scarbrough
Director, Policy and Legal Services
(360) 252-3018