With Principal Rich Kitchens leaving at the end of the year, the search for the new 2013-2014 school year principal has commenced. The target date for this decision is May 22.
As opposed to last year when Kitchens was appointed from within the school district, the district opened up the job opportunity for both internal and external candidates to apply. The job vacancy was advertised in a state-wide newspaper viewed by administrators, as well as on EDJOIN, a national education job search website.
The application period was open for over a month, with a deadline of April 15, Superintendent Constance Hubbard said.
Following the deadline, a small district level committee began to screen the applications.
While going through the applications, the screening committee ruled out the candidates who did not meet the essential criteria.
“They have to have at least five years experience in a combination of teaching, counseling, or administration,” Hubbard said. “We usually look for administrative experience at the high school or middle school level.”
Assistant Superintendent Michael Brady, who was part of the screening committee, said the applications were all independently reviewed.
“Typically, people who are part of the screening committee don’t do the interviews,” Brady said. “Sometimes there is overlap, but you don’t want to have people who have preconceived notions about what a person is like.”
After the screening process, the approved applicants were then interviewed by a panel consisting of parents, teachers, classified employees, administrators, and high school students.
Five parents participated in the initial round of interviews on May 2. Parents were either self-nominated or nominated by other parents to be on the panel. Of the nominated parents, a selection committee met to determine which parents would best provide a broad representation of parents.
“We hope that the parents on the interview panel [were] able to represent all the parents, and all of the parents’ input, but also [contribute] a breadth of experience in terms of their own kids,” Parents Club President Dane Copeland said. “We’d want to get the best candidate to champion our kids and our school, and be innovative in 21st century thinking.”
Kitchens selected the three students who also served on the interviewing committee. He choose students who were able to see the big picture, and who were also able to commit their entire day to interviewing.
Junior Marie St. Claire, one of the students on the panel, said she was looking for a candidate who would bring new energy and unity to the school.
“Personality wise, I looked for a candidate who seemed approachable, open minded, and dynamic,” St. Claire said.
After the initial round of interviewing, the panel recommended candidates they believed should be considered for further reference checks, which were conducted by Hubbard, Brady, and Assistant Superintendent Randall Booker.
When the finalists are chosen, they are going to be interviewed by the Board of Education. After the Board and Hubbard discuss the finalists, they will pick a candidate. The Board will then vote on the decision during a public meeting, scheduled for May 22.
“In the event that we don’t find who we think would be a good candidate, then we would open it up again, which means we’ll advertise again, and go through the whole process again,” Hubbard said.
Hubbard said she would like to have principal who is a strong leader and has forward thinking in terms of where education is going. She is looking for someone who not only cares about kids, but understands that there is more to life than academics.
“I really look for someone who will have integrity and courage to stand up for what they think is right and what they think is best on behalf of the kids,” Hubbard said. “I’m really pleased that the [current] staff has taken on the whole respect and climate issue, because that is something that I look forward to and that I think is very important also.”
Sophomore Tiffany Zhou said she would like a principal who is easy to talk to and highly involved with the students.
“In general, just a principal that can keep the school running with a friendly, genuine smile,” Zhou said.
Kitchens said although he has no role in choosing the new principal, whoever is chosen should have a lot of experience in high schools. He or she should also know curriculum, teaching, athletics, how to get students involved, and also possess the ability to see the big picture of how high school fits within the community.
“They better have a sense of humor,” Kitchens said. “If they don’t have a sense of humor, they won’t be right for this job.”
Kitchens said there are advantages and disadvantages in choosing someone within the Piedmont community rather than someone from the outside.
“I think it really does depend on the person,” Kitchens said. “Sometimes you get fresh ideas from outside people. They have different perspectives and that’s needed sometimes. On the other hand, I think it’s really important to know [that] this, or this type of community, is a high achieving school district and school with very demanding clients, both the students and the parents.”
Brady said he is looking for someone who understands Piedmont traditions and is not going to make sweeping changes, and who also welcomes community involvement.
“It’s kind of like, when the president of the United States is elected, the president is not elected to change the country,” Brady said. “The country is going to exist, and that president, or that principal, is the steward of that organization, for whatever time he or she is there. His or her responsibility is to maintain the integrity of the institution. It’s [his or her] job to preserve and protect it, not to change it and think of [his or her] own desire.”
Millennium High School Principal Ting Hsu Engelman, who was part of the interviewing committee, said whoever is chosen will hopefully continue to work on finding ways to decrease stress for the students.
“I hope the next principal can be as organized and humorous as Mr. Kitchens, as eloquent and creative as Mr. Booker, as financially savvy as Mr. Brady, and as student-centered as Ms. Hubbard,” Hsu Engelman said.
