Position Title: Superintendent

Salary: $185,000 – $200,000

Initial Application Screening: October 22, 2008

Downloads:

• Job Application
• Job Brochure

The Position

The governing board of the Alameda Unified School District invites experienced and successful educators to apply for the position of superintendent. The board is seeking a professional adviser who is an instructional leader with a commitment to educational excellence and equity for all students. By understanding and meeting the educational challenges in a diverse community, the superintendent will continue to develop a strong educational program for all students. The successful candidate will be highly visible and involved in the community and will serve as chief spokesperson for educational issues. Individuals with nontraditional experience in the field of education are also encouraged to apply.

The Community

Alameda is located in the geographical center of the San Francisco Bay area providing easy access to all of the activities the Bay Area has to offer. This island city is located on the east shore of San Francisco Bay with Victorian homes and shade lined streets covering the 12.4 square miles. Alameda offers a special living environment with a coastal climate, parks, historical business districts and numerous recreational opportunities. The city’s elected and appointed officials, business leaders, non-profit organizations, and volunteers work together to preserve and enhance the quality of life that has been enjoyed for over a century. The community actively supports the district through parent advisory groups, business partnerships and the Alameda Education Foundation. Since 2001, Alameda residents have shown their support for Alameda schools with the passage of three parcel tax measures and one bond measure.

The District

Alameda USD is composed of approximately 10,230 students in ten elementary schools (three Title 1 schools), three middle schools and four high schools. The superintendent will also be responsible for oversight of two charter schools, an adult school and a child development center. There are 567 certificated staff members and 341 classified staff members. The district’s educational philosophy is:

• Every student has the right to reach his/her full potential
• Development of the whole person—intellectual, emotional, creative and physical—is an important part of a well-rounded individual
• Education is a shared responsibility of the student, the teacher, the parent and the community
• Embracing diversity contributes to the strength of the community
• Instruction should be designed to meet the needs of the diverse learners
• High expectations result in high achievement
• Students learn best when actively engaged in relevant work
• Community service is a valuable learning experience for students
• Decision-making must be responsive to
  student needs

The student population of the district reflects the community’s ethnic diversity with 30 percent Caucasian, 30 percent Asian, 13 percent Hispanic and 12 percent African American.

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

• K–12 public school classroom teaching experience preferred
• Successful school site administrative experience preferred
• Successful district level administrative experience preferred
• Experience as an assistant superintendent or superintendent desirable
• Experience with a diverse socioeconomic, multicultural student population preferred
• Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university required

Personal Characteristics

• Has high integrity and is honest, fair, trustworthy and forthright; treats others with dignity and respect
• Has a commitment to being an active participant in the life of the community
• Creates a district climate of cooperation and collaboration
• Ability to listen to new ideas and divergent opinions and secures meaningful involvement of staff, parents and community
• Communicates in a consistent and timely manner with all segments of the district and community; is a visible, articulate spokesperson and advocate for public education
• Recognizes that all staff members are integral to the success of the district
• Demonstrated skills in decision making; is decisive, directive, inclusive and/or collaborative as appropriate to the decision
• Is highly visible in the community, schools and work sites; is accessible and approachable by students, staff, employees and community members
• Is sensitive and responsive to the educational needs and concerns of diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic groups
• Professional Skills and Abilities
• Commitment to academic excellence, a record of improving student achievement and success in closing the achievement gap between ethnic, socioeconomic and culturally diverse students
• Strong curricular leader with a dedication to educational excellence and high academic standards, innovation and equitable opportunities for all students
• In depth understanding and knowledge of school budgeting and school finance at the state, district and school levels
• Demonstrated ability to oversee the district’s facilities and resources in a responsible manner, as well as the ability to seek and find new funding sources
• Utilizes technology and supports technology and its use in instruction and district management
• Demonstrated skills in analyzing potential effect and impact of state and federal legislation on the district
• Commitment to arts education; will support and promote an equitable arts education program in all of Alameda’s schools
• Demonstrated success in working with a governing board; is a person who ensures that the board receives appropriate information, advice and recommendations
• A leader with a vision of where the district might go and what the district might become; ability to articulate the vision and incorporate other points of view and to decisively lead the district
• Experience in negotiations with a demonstrated record of creating a positive climate in employee relations and a record of creating a climate of cooperation and collaboration
• Ability to select, motivate and retain outstanding staff members

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:
Alameda Unified School District
c/o Dr. Elaine Collins, Adviser
California School Boards Association
Executive Search Services
3100 Beacon Blvd., Suite Alameda
West Sacramento, CA 95691

All applicants must provide the following items by the closing date, October 22, 2008 (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.aspx.
• A personal letter of application stating reasons for interest in the Alameda Unified 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 the October 22, 2008 (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.

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.

Interviews are tentatively scheduled for
November 15 and 16, 2008. Travel expenses for those candidates selected for the interviews will be the responsibility of the candidate.

Salary and Contract Terms

The Alameda Unified School District Board of Education will offer a salary in the range of $185,000 to $200,000 (competitive and negotiable, based on that individual’s experience and qualifications) plus medical benefits to 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