Waterford School District Superintendent Search

Community and Staff Input

Thank you for sharing your perspective regarding the qualities, experiences, and skills that you would like to see in the district's next superintendent. The survey is being administered by the MASB Executive Search team on behalf of the district and takes about ten minutes to complete. Anonymous individual responses like yours will be combined with those from other stakeholders to provide important community input to the Board of Education as it seeks to identify the best candidate for the position. Responses that contain the names of individuals and/or foul language will be deleted. Consolidated results from all returned surveys will be reported publicly.

One important note: as you go through this survey, you will probably find that every trait and skill discussed is important to you at least to some extent. Your challenge is to help us prioritize between traits that are somewhat important for the next superintendent and those that are critically important—so try to use the full range of any scales we provide and reserve “top box” ratings for only the few items that in your mind rise above the rest.

To begin, we have just a few questions that will help us categorize your answers with other similar stakeholders in this process.

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* 1. If you are a resident, how long have you lived in the school district?

Less than 5 years

5 to 10 years

Over 10 years

Do not live within the school district

Would rather not say

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* 2. How long have you worked in the school district?

Less than 5 years

5 to 10 years

Over 10 years

Do not work in the district

Would rather not say

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* 3. Which type(s) of stakeholder are you? Check ALL categories below that apply to you.

Administrator for the school district

Teacher for the school district

Support staff for the school district

Resident without children currently in the school district

Parent of current elementary student

Parent of current middle school student

Parent of current high school student

Member of an area community organization (e.g., Rotary Club, Interfaith Council, Chamber of Commerce, etc.)

Grandparent, guardian, other

Current elected school board member

Would rather not say

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* 4. In your view, what are the strengths of the district? Type your answer in the box below.

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* 5. From your perspective, what challenges do you think the school district will face over the next five years or so that could impact educational programs for the students? Type your answer in the box below.

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* 6. What is the minimum level of education you want the Board to consider when evaluating candidates for the superintendent position? (Check ONE answer below.)

Bachelor degree

Masters degree

Masters plus administrative certification/endorsement

Specialist

Specialist plus administrative certification/endorsement

Doctorate

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* 7. Below is a list of positions that superintendent candidates may have held in the past. Which prior positions do you think would prove most valuable for the next superintendent? (You may check up to THREE positions below.)

Public Relations Director

Community Education Director

Leadership position outside Education

Prior position doesn’t matter that much as long as the candidate has the right skill set

Superintendent in another school district

Finance Director

Building Principal

Assistant Superintendent

Special Education Director

Teacher

Human Resource Director

Curriculum Development Specialist

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* 8. Listed below are specific areas of expertise that different superintendent candidates may possess. From your perspective, how much weight should the Board place on each area? Rate the importance of each area using the scale to the right.

	Critically Important	Above Average Importance	Of Average Importance	Below Average Importance	Relatively Unimportant
Facilities management	Facilities management Critically Important	Facilities management Above Average Importance	Facilities management Of Average Importance	Facilities management Below Average Importance	Facilities management Relatively Unimportant
Human resource management	Human resource management Critically Important	Human resource management Above Average Importance	Human resource management Of Average Importance	Human resource management Below Average Importance	Human resource management Relatively Unimportant
Curriculum development and evaluation	Curriculum development and evaluation Critically Important	Curriculum development and evaluation Above Average Importance	Curriculum development and evaluation Of Average Importance	Curriculum development and evaluation Below Average Importance	Curriculum development and evaluation Relatively Unimportant
Contract/labor negotiations	Contract/labor negotiations Critically Important	Contract/labor negotiations Above Average Importance	Contract/labor negotiations Of Average Importance	Contract/labor negotiations Below Average Importance	Contract/labor negotiations Relatively Unimportant
Budget development/management	Budget development/management Critically Important	Budget development/management Above Average Importance	Budget development/management Of Average Importance	Budget development/management Below Average Importance	Budget development/management Relatively Unimportant
Public Relations	Public Relations Critically Important	Public Relations Above Average Importance	Public Relations Of Average Importance	Public Relations Below Average Importance	Public Relations Relatively Unimportant
Contract administration	Contract administration Critically Important	Contract administration Above Average Importance	Contract administration Of Average Importance	Contract administration Below Average Importance	Contract administration Relatively Unimportant

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* 9. Below are six different leadership style descriptions. Recognizing that a leader may employ all of these management styles in different situations and at different points in time, are there some that you think should be the dominant style for an effective superintendent? Read through the list and choose up to TWO management styles that you would like the next superintendent to employ most often .

Democratic leadership: this leader will make the final decision but invites other members of the team to contribute to the decision making process.

Servant leadership: this leader leads simply by virtue of meeting the needs of his or her team.

Transformational leadership: this leader inspires his or her team with a shared vision of the future.

Situational leadership: this leader demonstrates different leadership styles depending on the situation.

Collaborative leadership: this leader leads by using consensus building and other group processes to arrive at mutually beneficial decisions.

Delegated leadership: this leader is willing to turn over responsibility for decision making and problem solving to others.

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* 10. Listed below are specific experiences and skill areas that could be important when evaluating the superintendent candidates. From your perspective, how much weight should the Board place on each area? Rate the importance of each area using the scale to the right.

	Critically Important	Above Average Importance	Of Average Importance	Below Average Importance	Relatively Unimportant
Strong communication skills with School Board members	Strong communication skills with School Board members Critically Important	Strong communication skills with School Board members Above Average Importance	Strong communication skills with School Board members Of Average Importance	Strong communication skills with School Board members Below Average Importance	Strong communication skills with School Board members Relatively Unimportant
Strong knowledge of curriculum research and deployment	Strong knowledge of curriculum research and deployment Critically Important	Strong knowledge of curriculum research and deployment Above Average Importance	Strong knowledge of curriculum research and deployment Of Average Importance	Strong knowledge of curriculum research and deployment Below Average Importance	Strong knowledge of curriculum research and deployment Relatively Unimportant
Strong knowledge and experience with school financial matters	Strong knowledge and experience with school financial matters Critically Important	Strong knowledge and experience with school financial matters Above Average Importance	Strong knowledge and experience with school financial matters Of Average Importance	Strong knowledge and experience with school financial matters Below Average Importance	Strong knowledge and experience with school financial matters Relatively Unimportant
Proven track record of raising student achievement	Proven track record of raising student achievement Critically Important	Proven track record of raising student achievement Above Average Importance	Proven track record of raising student achievement Of Average Importance	Proven track record of raising student achievement Below Average Importance	Proven track record of raising student achievement Relatively Unimportant
Maintain visibility and accessibility to parents	Maintain visibility and accessibility to parents Critically Important	Maintain visibility and accessibility to parents Above Average Importance	Maintain visibility and accessibility to parents Of Average Importance	Maintain visibility and accessibility to parents Below Average Importance	Maintain visibility and accessibility to parents Relatively Unimportant
Maintain visibility and accessibility to the broader school district community	Maintain visibility and accessibility to the broader school district community Critically Important	Maintain visibility and accessibility to the broader school district community Above Average Importance	Maintain visibility and accessibility to the broader school district community Of Average Importance	Maintain visibility and accessibility to the broader school district community Below Average Importance	Maintain visibility and accessibility to the broader school district community Relatively Unimportant
Proven track record of active advocacy for public education	Proven track record of active advocacy for public education Critically Important	Proven track record of active advocacy for public education Above Average Importance	Proven track record of active advocacy for public education Of Average Importance	Proven track record of active advocacy for public education Below Average Importance	Proven track record of active advocacy for public education Relatively Unimportant
Exceedingly responsive (follows through and follows up)	Exceedingly responsive (follows through and follows up) Critically Important	Exceedingly responsive (follows through and follows up) Above Average Importance	Exceedingly responsive (follows through and follows up) Of Average Importance	Exceedingly responsive (follows through and follows up) Below Average Importance	Exceedingly responsive (follows through and follows up) Relatively Unimportant
Exceptional written communication skills	Exceptional written communication skills Critically Important	Exceptional written communication skills Above Average Importance	Exceptional written communication skills Of Average Importance	Exceptional written communication skills Below Average Importance	Exceptional written communication skills Relatively Unimportant
Overarching love of kids	Overarching love of kids Critically Important	Overarching love of kids Above Average Importance	Overarching love of kids Of Average Importance	Overarching love of kids Below Average Importance	Overarching love of kids Relatively Unimportant
Excellent speaking skills with large and small groups	Excellent speaking skills with large and small groups Critically Important	Excellent speaking skills with large and small groups Above Average Importance	Excellent speaking skills with large and small groups Of Average Importance	Excellent speaking skills with large and small groups Below Average Importance	Excellent speaking skills with large and small groups Relatively Unimportant
Maintain visibility and accessibility to students	Maintain visibility and accessibility to students Critically Important	Maintain visibility and accessibility to students Above Average Importance	Maintain visibility and accessibility to students Of Average Importance	Maintain visibility and accessibility to students Below Average Importance	Maintain visibility and accessibility to students Relatively Unimportant
Successful experience working with diverse communities	Successful experience working with diverse communities Critically Important	Successful experience working with diverse communities Above Average Importance	Successful experience working with diverse communities Of Average Importance	Successful experience working with diverse communities Below Average Importance	Successful experience working with diverse communities Relatively Unimportant
Adept at media and public relations	Adept at media and public relations Critically Important	Adept at media and public relations Above Average Importance	Adept at media and public relations Of Average Importance	Adept at media and public relations Below Average Importance	Adept at media and public relations Relatively Unimportant
Ability to develop and direct an effective management team	Ability to develop and direct an effective management team Critically Important	Ability to develop and direct an effective management team Above Average Importance	Ability to develop and direct an effective management team Of Average Importance	Ability to develop and direct an effective management team Below Average Importance	Ability to develop and direct an effective management team Relatively Unimportant
Experience with school bond/millage/sinking fund election and implementation efforts	Experience with school bond/millage/sinking fund election and implementation efforts Critically Important	Experience with school bond/millage/sinking fund election and implementation efforts Above Average Importance	Experience with school bond/millage/sinking fund election and implementation efforts Of Average Importance	Experience with school bond/millage/sinking fund election and implementation efforts Below Average Importance	Experience with school bond/millage/sinking fund election and implementation efforts Relatively Unimportant
Demonstrated ability to work with elected officials beyond the School Board	Demonstrated ability to work with elected officials beyond the School Board Critically Important	Demonstrated ability to work with elected officials beyond the School Board Above Average Importance	Demonstrated ability to work with elected officials beyond the School Board Of Average Importance	Demonstrated ability to work with elected officials beyond the School Board Below Average Importance	Demonstrated ability to work with elected officials beyond the School Board Relatively Unimportant
Demonstrated responsiveness to students with learning differences	Demonstrated responsiveness to students with learning differences Critically Important	Demonstrated responsiveness to students with learning differences Above Average Importance	Demonstrated responsiveness to students with learning differences Of Average Importance	Demonstrated responsiveness to students with learning differences Below Average Importance	Demonstrated responsiveness to students with learning differences Relatively Unimportant
Maintain visibility and accessibility to staff	Maintain visibility and accessibility to staff Critically Important	Maintain visibility and accessibility to staff Above Average Importance	Maintain visibility and accessibility to staff Of Average Importance	Maintain visibility and accessibility to staff Below Average Importance	Maintain visibility and accessibility to staff Relatively Unimportant
Already familiar with the district	Already familiar with the district Critically Important	Already familiar with the district Above Average Importance	Already familiar with the district Of Average Importance	Already familiar with the district Below Average Importance	Already familiar with the district Relatively Unimportant
Demonstrates a keen ability to think outside the box and develop creative solutions to complicated problems	Demonstrates a keen ability to think outside the box and develop creative solutions to complicated problems Critically Important	Demonstrates a keen ability to think outside the box and develop creative solutions to complicated problems Above Average Importance	Demonstrates a keen ability to think outside the box and develop creative solutions to complicated problems Of Average Importance	Demonstrates a keen ability to think outside the box and develop creative solutions to complicated problems Below Average Importance	Demonstrates a keen ability to think outside the box and develop creative solutions to complicated problems Relatively Unimportant
Fosters professional development of staff	Fosters professional development of staff Critically Important	Fosters professional development of staff Above Average Importance	Fosters professional development of staff Of Average Importance	Fosters professional development of staff Below Average Importance	Fosters professional development of staff Relatively Unimportant
Recognizes, values, and affirms staff members	Recognizes, values, and affirms staff members Critically Important	Recognizes, values, and affirms staff members Above Average Importance	Recognizes, values, and affirms staff members Of Average Importance	Recognizes, values, and affirms staff members Below Average Importance	Recognizes, values, and affirms staff members Relatively Unimportant

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* 11. Listed below are personal characteristics that different superintendent candidates could possess. From your perspective, how much weight should the Board place on each personality characteristic when assessing each candidate? Rate the importance of each using the scale to the right.

	Critically Important	Above Average Importance	Of Average Importance	Below Average Importance	Relatively Unimportant
Culturally competent	Culturally competent Critically Important	Culturally competent Above Average Importance	Culturally competent Of Average Importance	Culturally competent Below Average Importance	Culturally competent Relatively Unimportant
Firm	Firm Critically Important	Firm Above Average Importance	Firm Of Average Importance	Firm Below Average Importance	Firm Relatively Unimportant
Self-reliant	Self-reliant Critically Important	Self-reliant Above Average Importance	Self-reliant Of Average Importance	Self-reliant Below Average Importance	Self-reliant Relatively Unimportant
Thick-skinned	Thick-skinned Critically Important	Thick-skinned Above Average Importance	Thick-skinned Of Average Importance	Thick-skinned Below Average Importance	Thick-skinned Relatively Unimportant
Tenacious/doesn’t give up	Tenacious/doesn’t give up Critically Important	Tenacious/doesn’t give up Above Average Importance	Tenacious/doesn’t give up Of Average Importance	Tenacious/doesn’t give up Below Average Importance	Tenacious/doesn’t give up Relatively Unimportant
Inclusive	Inclusive Critically Important	Inclusive Above Average Importance	Inclusive Of Average Importance	Inclusive Below Average Importance	Inclusive Relatively Unimportant
Approachable	Approachable Critically Important	Approachable Above Average Importance	Approachable Of Average Importance	Approachable Below Average Importance	Approachable Relatively Unimportant
Assertive	Assertive Critically Important	Assertive Above Average Importance	Assertive Of Average Importance	Assertive Below Average Importance	Assertive Relatively Unimportant
Collaborative	Collaborative Critically Important	Collaborative Above Average Importance	Collaborative Of Average Importance	Collaborative Below Average Importance	Collaborative Relatively Unimportant
Visionary	Visionary Critically Important	Visionary Above Average Importance	Visionary Of Average Importance	Visionary Below Average Importance	Visionary Relatively Unimportant
A problem solver	A problem solver Critically Important	A problem solver Above Average Importance	A problem solver Of Average Importance	A problem solver Below Average Importance	A problem solver Relatively Unimportant
A risk taker	A risk taker Critically Important	A risk taker Above Average Importance	A risk taker Of Average Importance	A risk taker Below Average Importance	A risk taker Relatively Unimportant
Flexible	Flexible Critically Important	Flexible Above Average Importance	Flexible Of Average Importance	Flexible Below Average Importance	Flexible Relatively Unimportant
Transparent	Transparent Critically Important	Transparent Above Average Importance	Transparent Of Average Importance	Transparent Below Average Importance	Transparent Relatively Unimportant
Sensitive	Sensitive Critically Important	Sensitive Above Average Importance	Sensitive Of Average Importance	Sensitive Below Average Importance	Sensitive Relatively Unimportant
A strong communicator	A strong communicator Critically Important	A strong communicator Above Average Importance	A strong communicator Of Average Importance	A strong communicator Below Average Importance	A strong communicator Relatively Unimportant
A strong listener	A strong listener Critically Important	A strong listener Above Average Importance	A strong listener Of Average Importance	A strong listener Below Average Importance	A strong listener Relatively Unimportant
Goal-oriented	Goal-oriented Critically Important	Goal-oriented Above Average Importance	Goal-oriented Of Average Importance	Goal-oriented Below Average Importance	Goal-oriented Relatively Unimportant
Resourceful	Resourceful Critically Important	Resourceful Above Average Importance	Resourceful Of Average Importance	Resourceful Below Average Importance	Resourceful Relatively Unimportant
Honest and ethical	Honest and ethical Critically Important	Honest and ethical Above Average Importance	Honest and ethical Of Average Importance	Honest and ethical Below Average Importance	Honest and ethical Relatively Unimportant
Kind	Kind Critically Important	Kind Above Average Importance	Kind Of Average Importance	Kind Below Average Importance	Kind Relatively Unimportant
Sense of humor	Sense of humor Critically Important	Sense of humor Above Average Importance	Sense of humor Of Average Importance	Sense of humor Below Average Importance	Sense of humor Relatively Unimportant
Personable	Personable Critically Important	Personable Above Average Importance	Personable Of Average Importance	Personable Below Average Importance	Personable Relatively Unimportant
Empathetic	Empathetic Critically Important	Empathetic Above Average Importance	Empathetic Of Average Importance	Empathetic Below Average Importance	Empathetic Relatively Unimportant

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* 12. In choosing the next superintendent, which path or strategy below do you think the Board of Education should take? (Choose ONE answer.)

Find a candidate who will stay the course and continue the good work of the current administration

Find a candidate with the same basic educational and management philosophy as the current administration, but who can make some necessary changes

Find a very different kind of candidate—one who is ready to take the district in a significantly different direction

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* 13. Tell us why you chose your answer above. If you think the district should stay the course, what aspects of the district give you that confidence in its leadership? If you think the course of the district should change, what changes would you want the new superintendent to make and why?

Those are all the questions we have for you. Thank you again for your willingness to provide input to this important process!