Position Title: Superintendent

Salary: $130,000

Closing Date: April 20, 2007

Downloads:

• Job Application
• Job Brochure

The Position

Our ideal candidate must possess exceptional interpersonal skills in communication and have an inclusive management style that welcomes and encourages participation and involvement. A strong understanding of curriculum and instruction is essential. The ability to manage a dynamic organization and foster excellence in all areas of administration is necessary for this position. The ideal candidate must also understand the unique challenges of our high school district. The Board of Trustees is committed to working effectively with the superintendent to foster and maintain a strong governance team.

The Community

Our schools are located in Grass Valley, nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills of northern California. Nevada County is a beautiful community with a family-friendly atmosphere that promotes year-round outdoor and recreational activities. Our residents enjoy an environment of pristine rivers, rolling hills, magnificent mountains and a rich history. Residents and visitors alike get pleasure from its award-winning restaurants, quality theater productions, museums, art galleries and local wineries. Located in the heart of the famous California Gold Rush area, we have many historic sites and opportunities for exploration and enjoyment. Here, you will find a magnificent four-season climate. Spring brings rushing rivers, wildflowers and hiking enthusiasts. Summer is filled with outdoor activities. Autumn brings a slower pace and the beautiful, fall colors. Winters are cool and rainy with occasional snow and world-class skiing is less than an hour away.

Residents of Nevada County comprise a diverse population with marked differences in thought, interests and socio-economic levels. Located only sixty miles from Sacramento, Nevada County is a magnet for those who wish to experience rural living at its finest. We also offer convenient access to the Lake Tahoe/Reno area, as well as to the San Francisco bay area.

To learn more about our community, please visit the Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce Web site at www.grassvalleychamber.com or the Official Online Guide to Nevada County at www.ncgold.com or the Nevada County Economic Resource Council at www.nerc.org.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Nevada Joint Union High School District is to provide all students with the educational opportunities that will empower them to reach their full potential and prepare them for work and lifelong learning.

The District

The Nevada Joint Union High School District is an award-winning school district with state and national honors for academic and vocational excellence. We are committed to having quality leadership and stable governance. We are proud of our students and recognize their potential. We work diligently to provide them with programs that meet their academic needs. Our teachers, support staff and administration work cooperatively and collaboratively to accomplish our mission and strategic goals.

Our district consists of four school sites. They include Nevada Union High School, Bear River High School, Park Avenue Alternative Education and most recently the Ghidotti Early College High School. Each site can be accessed through our district Web site at www.nuhsd.org. Our schools serve approximately 4,000 students in grades nine through twelve. We have a certificated staff of 220 and a classified staff of 150. Our general fund budget is $39,500,000. While we are facing declining enrollment, our budget is strong with a healthy reserve.

Our strong, academic programs have helped us maintain an average API score of 750. A high percentage of our students go on to colleges and universities after graduation. We plan to focus on building a stronger, vocational education program within our district. Our schools provide a wealth of extra-curricular activities including strong, athletic programs. We continue to maintain performing arts, art, music and other programs for our students.

The district prides itself on being creative. We have developed many alternative programs to meet the changing needs of our student population. The Ghidotti Early College High School works with the local community college to help students complete part of their college education before they graduate from high school. Our independent study and continuation schools are excellent examples of how alternative education can effectively help students graduate. Some of our schools are developing schedules to allow more flexibility in student choice, while others are using small learning communities to help students gain greater skills.

While facing the challenges of declining enrollment, we work to create and perpetuate a climate that supports open and continuous communication between staff, students, parents and the community. Our parents and community are supportive of our schools and work side-by-side with the staff to insure student success. Community support is evidenced by the fact that voters passed a bond measure to build a new performing arts theatre and a swimming pool for the Bear River High School campus. The community also raised funds to build a synthetic football field and track at Nevada Union High School. Furthermore, last year, our community generated $6,000,000 in scholarships funds for our graduating seniors.

We are committed to aligning instruction in our classrooms with the California Academic Content Standards with a focus on language arts and mathematics. We are also committed to satisfying all requirements of No Child Left Behind and all state and federal mandates.

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

• Appropriate administrative credentials and academic training to meet the demands of the position.
  
• Experience as a classroom teacher
  
• Current or recent experience serving in an administrative position at a district office or as a highly successful experienced high school principal.

Personal Characteristics

The successful candidate will:

• Possess the qualities of personal integrity, honesty, courage and forthrightness in dealing with staff, parents, students, community and the board.
  
• Possess a willingness to participate in the community to obtain its respect, secure its cooperation and lead in its effort to improve the quality of education.
  
• Be passionate and enthusiastic about students and education and motivates others.
  
• Hold high expectations for self, staff and students.
  
• Be committed to self-growth – both personally and professionally.
  
• Be a positive person with excellent human relation skills – a warm, visible leader.
  
• Have an inquiring mind and genuine interest in others.
  
• Makes difficult decisions while under stress without losing composure or destroying relationships

Professional Skills and Abilities

The successful candidate will:

• Have excellent communication skills – both oral and written – and a record of effective communication with staff, board and community members.
  
• Communicate regularly and openly with all segments of the school and the community, while being visible.
  
• Be an accessible, active listener with a commitment to the district and the area.
  
• Demonstrate success in working with a governing board to ensure student, staff and community confidence in the district governance team.
  
• Demonstrate competence in dealing with differing opinions and controversy in such a manner that problems are solved mutually and in the best interest of students.
  
• Be a strong leader who has a successful record in long-and short-range planning and in organizing and implementing educational programs consistent with the district’s goals and objectives.
  
• Be able to lead the district in developing a vision, new ideas and a plan to improve the curriculum and programs in order to better educate all students.
  
• Have strong curriculum leadership skills to develop, implement and evaluate current educational theory and instructional techniques to enhance the curriculum and instructional programs.
  
• Know how to make changes over a period of time without disrupting existing strong programs.
  
• Have demonstrated experience with alternative education programs, small learning communities and for students with special needs.
  
• Have experience in developing, supporting and implementing vocational education programs.
  
• Promote the arts and music as necessary parts of a students education.
  
• Recognize the importance of extra-curricular programs (i.e. sports, music, drama, etc.) and the role they play in student and community life.
  
• Have demonstrated an ability to select, lead, and maintain a highly qualified staff.
  
• Demonstrate the ability to manage the district’s finances and resources in a responsible manner, as well as the ability to seek and find new funding sources.
  
• Be a team builder who appreciates the contributions of all.
  
• Have the ability to assign responsibility, delegate authority and insist on personal and staff accountability.
  
• Seek and value the potential in others; promote and empower staff at all levels.
  

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.

Applications are to be sent to:

Nevada Joint Union High School District
c/o Ken Matheson, Adviser
California School Boards Association
3100 Beacon Blvd., Suite Nevada
West Sacramento, CA 95691

All applicants must provide the following items by the closing date, April 20, 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 page at www.csba.org/es
  
• A personal letter of application stating reasons for interest in the Nevada Joint Union High School District superintendent position
  
• A résumé providing biographical background information about educational preparation, experience, and achievements
  
• 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 April 20, 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 described 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.

Both the board and the Superintendent Search Advisory Committee (SSAC), consisting of staff and community members, will interview the selected candidates. After the interviews, the SSAC will report to the board the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the candidates.

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

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

Salary and Contract Terms

The Nevada Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees will offer a salary of $130,000 (competitive and negotiable) to the successful candidate, based on that individual’s experience and qualifications. The district will offer a multi-year contract.

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