Here’s what Wichitans say they want to see in their next school superintendent
The Wichita school district’s next superintendent should be a decisive leader with a “strong moral compass rooted in justice and equality,” school board members said Monday when they finalized the job description.
The board approved 12 attributes favored by community members who filled out a recent survey and attended a series of engagement events organized by Iowa-based Ray & Associates, which is being paid an estimated $39,000 to lead the search.
These characteristics will be included in the job description, which goes live Tuesday on the district website:
Is willing to listen to input but is a decision-maker
Possess the leadership skills, knowledge and sensitivity required to respond to the opportunities and challenges presented by a diverse student body and community
Has a strong moral compass that is rooted in justice and equality
Is a strong communicator in speaking, listening and writing
Has experience recruiting and maintaining exceptional staff for the district and schools
Is able to delegate and oversee the work of staff (i.e. leading by example) and appropriately maintain accountability
Is strongly committed to a “student-centered” philosophy in all decisions
Possesses the ability to enhance student performance, especially in identifying and closing or narrowing the gaps in student achievement and opportunity
Promotes a positive and professional environment that includes mutual trust and respect among faculty, staff, administrators and board
Has classroom experience in a K-12 setting
Commitment to and experience working with all genders, races and socio-economic groups while promoting positive and inclusive student behavior conducive to a healthy and safe learning environment
Makes recommendations and data-driven decisions
According to Ray & Associates, 500 people joined the listening sessions held last week and another 400 submitted feedback online.
The deadline for internal candidates to apply is Jan. 31. The school board will consider widening the search to include candidates from outside the district after reviewing internal applicants.
Outgoing Superintendent Alicia Thompson has worked with the district for 31 years and has held the top job since 2017. The school board hopes to name her successor by spring break.
“Students overwhelmingly expressed the need for a well-rounded, passionate leader that is willing to take risks and make a change within our own community and our district,” said Andrew Le of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council.
“They also expressed concerns for more creative and unique ways to approach mental health within the district, whether that be for staff or for students.”
Thompson, who will retire at the end of the school year, cited an October Mental Health America analysis that ranked Kansas last in the U.S. for mental health due to high rates of mental illness and barriers to accessing care.
The report, based largely on data from 2019 and 2020, found that 9% of Kansas youth had a substance use disorder — more than any other state. Only three states scored lower than Kansas on access to mental health care.
“We should not be the last state on the registry for mental health services in our communities,” Thompson said at Monday evening’s meeting, addressing state and local officials. “We have got to step up and advocate to provide resources so we can stabilize our community.”
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 80% of public schools across the U.S. report the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted both student behavior and socio-emotional development.
Following a semester marked by student brawls and weapons arrests, officials in Wichita, the state’s largest school district, say the disruptive behavior of less than 10% of students is stretching educators to their limits and undermining learning.
“Our parents have got to step up and help us to get kids to school and have expectations for them when you send them,” Thompson said. “Don’t allow them to come to school and cuss out the teachers or to hit people or those kinds of things.”
School board leadership
Also at Monday’s meeting, school board stalwart Sheril Logan was unanimously chosen by her colleagues to serve a sixth stint as board president in 2023, when she and two other members are up for re-election.
Diane Albert was awarded the vice presidency 6-1 with Julie Hedrick voting for outgoing President Stan Reeser, who himself voted for Albert.
