School Exec Connect gave an overview of the firm's process and services for conducting a Superintendent Search. This was the first search firm the Board has heard from as it considers options for conducting the USD116 Superintendent Search.
Overview of School Exec Connect Search Plan
- Open the search
- Create candidate profile (after focus groups, surveys, and feedback from various stakeholders)
- Develop candidate pool
- Select candidates to interview
Board Member Questions
Q: What percentage of candidates come to you from advertising?
A: Roughly 20-25 percent
Q: We have a lot of families who cannot come to a focus group or have trouble with surveys (language barriers/technology barriers or otherwise). How will you ensure you receive input from all groups, especially our underrepresented voices?
A: We provide virtual opportunities at various times and days of the week. In addition, we will go to where those families are located, and we will have focus groups and conversations with those families. We want to hear all voices in the Urbana School District in order to create the best candidate profile.
Q: How will you tailor a search for a superintendent for what Urbana needs? We don't want a generic, good superintendent. We want a superintendent that will know our strengths and challenges and have the knowledge and skills to lead us forward.
A: We think it's necessary for leaders to reflect the communities they serve. In addition, we want to make sure that the profile we develop -- after meeting with stakeholders and getting survey responses, and looking at data -- that that is the lens we use to promote and recruit superintendent candidates to Urbana.
Q: Six of the seven Board Members are up for reelection next year. How do you envision the new board giving any input?
A: We don't recommend delaying the choice of the next superintendent until after the election because you will lose half of your candidates. One possibility would be having a focus group with just the candidates running for the Board, because you will know who those people are come November.
