If your school district is interested in utilizing the NASB's Superintendent Search Service, call the NASB Office today to schedule a free consultation.

How do you begin your search for a new superintendent?

Information For School Boards

Introduction

The selection of the superintendent is one of the most important tasks of a school board. The superintendent provides leadership and assistance to the board to carry out the vision and policies of the school district. An effective and positive working relationship between the board and superintendent is critical. Therefore, selecting and hiring the right individual to serve a district in the superintendent role is extremely important not only for the board, but most especially for the benefit of the students and staff.

A board must first consider the options available to carry out this charge. It may be important to the board that they conduct their own search, or they may consider hiring an outside resource to assist in the process. Whether the board would decide to handle the search on their own or hire assistance, it is crucial the process be handled in a carefully planned and executed method.

Why a school board should consider search assistance from NASB?

The role of the NASB search procedure is to assist local boards in the procurement of a quality superintendent that best fits the district's needs.

There are two primary alternatives available to a school district in terms of carrying out a superintendent search:

Option 1: Appoint a member(s) of the board to direct the search. Should the board choose to conduct the search on their own, it is best that the individual appointed be familiar with the district, be objective, detail driven, and accountable. In addition, each board member must understand the time commitment required to complete this process maintaining a fair and equitable experience for all applicants applying. Time commitment is a factor that is difficult to comprehend, and calculate prior to embarking on the process; however, it is very important that each board member realize conducting this task without outside assistance magnifies each member's role in completing the key elements of the search, but most especially the time involved in screening and interviewing candidates. Each board member must take an active role in each of the important steps of the search.

Option 2: Contract with a group to carry out the search on behalf of the board of education and school district.

NASB search consultants provide several helpful characteristics, which contribute to the school districts, effort in the search process including:

1. NASB consultants provide assistance in developing the identified needs and qualifications necessary for the superintendent to lead the school district.
2. NASB consultants represent various segments of the Nebraska educational community. The consultants might be former board members, former superintendents, or current NASB staff members. The consultants are familiar faces to most board members who have been involved with the Association. In addition, each consultant has been trained and brings a wealth of experience to their role as a consultant.
3. NASB consultants utilize proven professional methods to assess and screen applicants. The screening and background checks are fundamentally important to the service we provide, and are a major difference between NASB and other search firms.
4. NASB consultants will collaboratively work with the board to design a timeline that permits complete commitment to the search but not limited to: recruitment, screening, reference checks, scheduling and protocol for candidate interviews, meetings with the board, staff, students, community, etc. However, the NASB approach is flexible. We know that there is no "one-size-fits-all" superintendent search. Different Boards have different expectations of their superintendent search services-the level of involvement in the search process varies from Board to Board. We are your association, and therefore, we will customize our services to fit your needs.
5. NASB has a sound working relationship with key organizations such as the Nebraska Council of School Administrators; the University of Nebraska, Nebraska Department of Education, the National School Boards Association, and other agencies across the United States involved in the superintendent search service.