New Kent schools release survey results for superintendent search

By Community Member | March 7, 2014 4:28 pm

New Kent County public schools have released results from its survey conducted Feb. 5-24 on preferred criteria for the incoming superintendent. Approximately 286 surveys were returned with the following results and preferences:

1. Education and Training – majority vote (if the vote was less than a difference of 5%, percentages are noted)

• An earned doctorate: preferred – 43.4%; required – 40.7%

• Experience as a Superintendent: preferred

• Experience as an Associate / Assistant Superintendent: preferred

• Experience as a Central Office Administrator: preferred

• Experience as a principal: required

• Experience as a CEO other than school district: not important

• Teaching experience: preferred

• Work experience in Virginia: preferred

• Residency in the school division: required – 41%; preferred – 37.4%; not important – 21.6%

2. Leadership / Management Skills – Top Priorities

• Decisive leader

• Visionary, creative thinking

• Team player, comfortable with shared decision-making

• Analytical, relies on data

• Motivator

3. Personal Characteristics – Top Priorities

• Good listener, accessible

• Confident

• Enthusiastic

• Creative

• Consistent

4. Staff Relations – Top Priorities

• Has a process for recruiting and selecting top-quality staff members

• Maintains open channels of communication to and from staff

• Creates an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect

• Knows the law concerning personnel policies and procedures

5. Community Relations – Top Priorities

• Effectively advocates school issues and needs

• Successfully handles press coverage

• Responds to individual concerns in an appropriate manner

6. School Finance – Top Priorities

• Lobbies for school funding on behalf of the school division

• Develops and explains rationale for the budget to the Board and local officials

• Offers creative funding solutions

7. Areas of Expertise – Top Priorities

• Curriculum and instruction

• School reform

• Budget and finance

8. Respondents

• Parents – 119

• School Teachers – 84

• School administrators – 6

• School employees – 43

• Community members – 16

• Business community members – 3

• Others – 13

Total – 284