Position Title: Superintendent

Salary: Competitive and Negotiable

Closing Date: June 7, 2007

Downloads:

• Job Application
• Job Brochure

The Position

San Rafael City Schools is seeking a superintendent with demonstrated leadership capabilities and exceptionally strong communication and interpersonal skills. He or she will exhibit a record of success in improving the academic performance of all students in an ethnically and socio-economically diverse community. The new superintendent will foster a positive climate that acknowledges and appreciates the contributions of all. He or she will be a "hands on" leader who is highly visible and involved in the schools and community. He or she will build upon existing academic improvements and district accomplishments by exercising vision and energy to implement the new SRCS strategic plan, "Roadmap to the Future."

The mission of San Rafael City Schools, a multicultural community with a commitment to build a school system of unparalleled quality, is to guarantee to students and parents that all students will acquire knowledge and skills essential for life-long learning, responsible citizenship and fulfillment of their greatest potential through a challenging personalized education in collaboration with parents, staff and our diverse community.

The Community

San Rafael is located 12 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge between San Francisco and the wine country. This picturesque bayfront city combines a rich historic past with many contemporary activities. Mission San Rafael Archangel, the historic China Camp State Park and the Victorian architecture reflect the area’s history while the Marin County Civic Center hosts international celebrities as well as performances by the Marin Symphony, the Marin Opera and the Marin Ballet. Art exhibits, film festivals and local celebrations add to the cultural activities.

With several private marinas, over a dozen neighborhood parks and three regional parks, the city of San Rafael offers many outdoor activities. Nearby are Point Reyes National Seashore, Mt. Tamalpais State Park, Stinson Beach and Muir Woods. San Rafael has a Mediterranean climate with dry summers and moderately wet winters.

With a population of over 57,000, San Rafael is Marin County’s financial center and economic hub. Key job sectors include business services, government, retail trade, finance, insurance, real estate and technology. Dominican University offers undergraduate and graduate programs, and The college of Marin is three miles south of the city. The most cosmopolitan city in Marin County, San Rafael is a community rich in ethnic and economic diversity. With the revitalized downtown area and extensive open space, San Rafael displays much civic pride and retains a "hometown" feel. Sunset magazine has called San Rafael a city "where cutting edge meets comfortable."

More information on the community can be obtained from the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce (www.sanrafaelchamber.com).

The District

San Rafael City Schools include the San Rafael Elementary School District and the San Rafael High School District, with a total student population of 5,738. The two districts are governed by one school board. The elementary district is composed of 6 elementary schools (Bahia Vista, Coleman, Glenwood, Laurel Dell, San Pedro and Sun Valley elementary schools); Venetia Valley K-8 School and James B. Davidson Middle School. District K-8 ethnic group demographics are: 57% Latino, 31% White, 5% Asian, 2% African American, and 5% Other.

The high school district provides secondary education to students residing in 2 elementary districts: Dixie School District and San Rafael Elementary District. The high school district has 2 comprehensive 9-12 high schools: San Rafael High School and Terra Linda High School. Other programs include Madrone High School (Continuation), San Rafael Adult Education and San Rafael Community Day School (7-12). Both comprehensive high schools offer intensive advanced placement programs and honors programs in addition to strong academic programs in math, science, social studies, English and foreign languages. High school district ethnic demographics are: 50% White, 34% Latino, 8% Asian, 3% African American, and 5% Other.

San Rafael City Schools enjoy strong community support. Parents are active partners in their children’s education, assisting in classrooms and parent-sponsored programs that enrich the core curriculum. Members of the business and residential community support the district through contributions to HeadsUp San Rafael Public Education Foundation and through serving on district and school advisory committees. Over the past few years, residents have approved nearly $100 million in school bonds, and the district collected additional funds resulting in over $170 million updated, modernized school facilities. The community has also approved an eight year extension of parcel taxes. The district is completing work on a "Roadmap to the Future", a strategic planning project to develop an updated vision for the future, and planning ways to achieve that future.

More information on the San Rafael City Schools may be obtained at: www.srcs.org.

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

• Master’s degree required, doctorate preferred
  
• Experience as a classroom teacher
  
• Experience as a site administrator
  
• Experience as a superintendent or assistant superintendent
  
• Experience with grades K-12 required
  
• Bilingual (Spanish) desirable

Personal Characteristics

• An educational leader who values high academic achievement and continually refines strategies based on learning and experience
  
• Passionately cares about the success of all students and committed to closing the "achievement gap" via application of proven best practices
  
• A "people person" who is accessible and possesses exceptional formal and informal communications skills, both verbally and in writing
  
• An effective and enthusiastic team builder who recognizes the abilities and contributions of all
  
• Honest and straight forward; a person of integrity and trustworthiness
  
• Demonstrates a collaborative and inclusive leadership style
  
• Reflects on personal practice, and models how to continually improve professional knowledge and skills
  
• A proactive and creative problem solver who has the courage to deal with difficult issues and remain focused and positive in stressful situations

Professional Skills and Abilities

• Develops, inspires and motivates a cohesive and effective management team by maximizing strengths and building consensus, in the presence of variety of viewpoints, to implement common goals that focus on student achievement
  
• Maintains a strong governance team model and a successful superintendent/board relationship, fosters a common vision and commitment, and works effectively and efficiently to implement board action
  
• Reaches out to the community and is highly visible, regularly articulates with the feeder Dixie School District, and builds partnerships with the local business community, agencies and civic organizations
  
• Exhibits success in long- and short- range fiscal planning and creative funding approaches; uses the school budget to support improved student learning
  
• Possesses exceptional management skills in leading teams and following projects through to successful completion
  
• Experience in utilizing technology to improve teaching for all types of students and for efficient business operations
  
• Ability to successfully build and maintain positive relationships with employee associations/unions and their leaders
  
• Demonstrates understanding of state and federal educational mandates and knowledge of how to successfully meet their requirements
  
• Builds partnerships between students, educators, parents and the community to promote success of students in a global society
  
• Experience in developing successful relationships with the media

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:

San Rafael City Schools
c/o Dr. Del Alberti, Adviser
California School Boards Association
3100 Beacon Blvd., Suite San Rafael
West Sacramento, CA 95691

All applicants must provide the following items by the closing date, Thursday, June 7, 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 San Rafael City Schools superintendent position
  
• A résumé providing biographical background information about educational preparation, experience, and achievements
  
• Five current letters of professional references describing the applicant’s performance in previously held positions.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to arrange to have the completed application, including reference letters forwarded in time to meet the June 7, 2007 (5:00 p.m.) deadline. Additional brochures or applications 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.

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 initial interview will be the responsibility of the candidate.

Salary and Contract Terms

The San Rafael City Schools Board of Education will offer a multi-year contract with a compensation and benefits package that is competitive and negotiable based on the individual’s experiences and qualifications.

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