Position Title: Superintendent

Salary: $100,000

Closing Date: March 12, 2007

Downloads:

• Job Application
• Job Brochure

The Position

The Curtis Creek School District Board of Trustees is seeking an experienced leader to bring together the staff, community and board to make a fine school district even better. The successful candidate will have a strong background in elementary education and will have the collaborative skills to foster the teamwork necessary to create an outstanding academic program for students. Excellent communication skills and an appreciation for the contributions of all members of the educational team are essential. As an integral and active member of the community, the new superintendent will be a spokesperson for education and will possess the vision and enthusiasm to inspire others to do their best work. Experience in budget, instructional improvement, special education and human resources is necessary.

The Community

Curtis Creek School District is located near the city of Sonora and is part of an area rich in the history and tradition of gold mining. Sonora has been a center for business and county government since the California Gold Rush in the mid 1800s. Recent growth in the area has stabilized with a population of 25,000 residents, but tourism often brings in considerably more people. The nearby Sierra Nevada mountain range offers many opportunities for recreation, including camping, hiking, boating and fishing in the summer and skiing, snowboarding and sledding in the winter. The scenic beauty and rural nature of the land provide a background for everything from old fashioned small town celebrations to sophisticated arts and entertainment attractions. With a location 60 miles east of Modesto, 160 miles east of San Francisco and 90 miles southeast of Sacramento, the area is accessible to metropolitan centers, yet is able to retain a small town atmosphere that provides a good environment for raising families. Along with scenic beauty, location and size, the mild climate and affordable housing continue to attract residents from other parts of the state.

The District

The school district serves 628 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Curtis Creek Elementary is a kindergarten through eighth grade school with approximately 482 students. Sullivan Creek is a kindergarten through fifth grade school with approximately 146 students. Each school has a full-time principal. Both schools have active parent groups that provide volunteers and support for the school program.

The district participates in Class Size Reduction for grades K-3. The staff provides a curriculum that exceeds state standards for all grades. The Open Court Reading Program is used for language skill development and Saxon Math is one of the programs used for teaching mathematics. API scores for both schools are in the 800s. A performing arts program and a competitive sports program make up the co-curricular activities.

Afterschool tutoring is also available for students. Non-severe special education is also offered as well as a Title 1 Program. A State Preschool Program and a Community Day School are other opportunities available for students in the district.

The student population is approximately 85 percent Caucasian, 11 percent Hispanic, 1 percent African American, 1 percent Asian and 2 percent Other. Upon completing eighth grade in the Curtis Creek School District, students attend high school in the Sonora Union High School District.

Selection Criteria

The following criteria represent standards to be used in the evaluation of applications and in the selection of the superintendent.

Professional Experience and Preparation

• Classroom teaching experience
  
• Principal experience, preferably at the elementary level
  
• Master’s degree required; doctorate preferred
  
• District office experience or equivalent required

Personal Characteristics

• Demonstrates good people skills; friendly and approachable
  
• Open to new ideas; seeks input from others
  
• Possesses a sense of humor
  
• Interested in becoming an integral and involved member of the community
  
• Ability to bring people together to work toward a common goal
  
• Possesses a strong work ethic; gets things done; follows through on commitments
  
• Works to build a climate of trust
  
• Stands by decisions made in the best interest of students
  
• A good role model for staff and students
  
• Politically savvy; collaborates with other administrators in the area
  
• Visible at district activities as well as in the classroom

Professional Skills and Abilities

• Provides stability to district through visionary leadership and long-term planning
  
• Knowledgeable in all aspects of elementary curriculum, especially reading
  
• Holds high standards of achievement for all students
  
• Expertise in the area of technology; able to provide leadership and expand programs
  
• Understands facilities issues and supports a strong maintenance program
  
• Experienced in negotiations with labor organizations
  
• Open and honest with the board; provides leadership to build a strong governance team
  
• Accepts and enjoys the multifaceted superintendent responsibilities in a small rural district
  
• Willingness to take a strong stand on issues that promote a cohesive staff
  
• Experience in establishing budget priorities and maximizing available funds
  
• Ability to work with various government agencies to provide the best for the district
  
• Respects and supports instruction in the visual and performing arts
  
• Promotes teamwork between and within each school
  
• Knowledgeable in the area of special education

Application Procedure

All applications will be held strictly confidential. Each applicant is requested to follow the procedures listed below. Those applicants wishing additional information should contact the CSBA adviser at (916) 669-3297. For duplication purposes, please do not bind application materials.

For duplication purposes, please do not bind application materials.

Applications are to be sent to:

Curtis Creek School District
c/o Dr. Elaine Collins, Adviser
California School Boards Association
3100 Beacon Blvd., Suite CURTIS CREEK
West Sacramento, CA 95691

All applicants must provide the following items by the closing date, Monday, March 12, 2007 (5:00 p.m.) to be considered:

• A completed Application Information Form. (Please complete as instructed; do not complete by stating “see attached résumé.”) The Application Information Form and brochure may be downloaded via CSBA’s Web site at www.csba.org/es
  
• A personal letter of application stating reasons for interest in the Curtis Creek School District superintendent position.
  
• A résumé providing biographical background information about educational preparation, experience and achievements.
  
• A placement file and/or five (5) current letters of professional references describing the applicant’s performance in previously held positions.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to arrange to have placement papers or reference letters forwarded in time to meet the Monday, March 12, 2007 (5:00 p.m.) deadline. Additional brochures may be requested by calling the CSBA 24-hour Brochure Request Line at (916) 669-3296.

Selection Procedure

A professional screening committee will evaluate the qualifications of each applicant. The board and the screening committee will use the selection criteria during the screening, interviewing and final decision-making process. After receiving and studying the report of the screening committee, the board will select and interview the top candidates.

The board will select candidates for the final interviews, conduct the interviews and select the superintendent. Any applicant who contacts a board member with the intent of influencing the board’s decision will be disqualified.

Travel expenses for those candidates selected for the interviews will be the responsibility of the candidate.

Salary and Contract Terms

The Curtis Creek School District Board of Education will offer a salary of $100,000 (competitive and negotiable), based on qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to provide the district with employment eligibility and verification of citizenship in compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act.

Board of Education