What Makes A Good Schools Superintendent, Groton?

With a hired consultant helping it, the Groton Board of Education is reaching out to the community for its input on what it thinks are the “desired qualities for a new superintendent.”

A public meeting is slated to Monday, June 17 at 7 p.m. in the Robert E. Fitch Senior High School auditorium for the community to have its say.

The BOE selected consultant firm McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C., Executive Recruitment and Development to help with the search.

In addition to the Monday night community meeting, firm consultants will be meeting during the day on June 17 and June 18 with school and office-based members of the Groton Public Schools community.  People who are unable to provide input in person may do so via an on-line survey from June 18 through June 20 at www.groton.k12.ct.us. The survey is only available beginning Tuesday, June 18, at 8 a.m. and will close on Thursday, June 20, at midnight.

Information gathered from meetings and surveys, along with criteria adopted by the Board of Education, will equip the consultants to screen applicants for those candidates that best fit the needs of the Groton Public Schools community. A full report on the input will be provided to the Board of Education for their consideration in selecting candidates to interview.

After the board chooses candidates to interview, representatives of the district and greater community will have the opportunity to meet the candidates and provide feedback for the board’s decision-making in the selection of a new superintendent.

The timeline of events for the superintendent search process:

Early June

Advertise the position through school board associations, administrator associations, colleges and universities, McPherson& Jacobson website, GPS website, AASA website, and Education Week website

June 17 and June 18

McPherson and Jacobson to meet with stakeholder groups to discuss the qualifications needed for a superintendent

June 18

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Central Office, Room 11

McPherson and Jacobson will give an oral presentation to the Board of Education in summary of the community/stakeholder meetings

July 18

The position will be closed to further candidates

August 12

The Board of Education will meet to review candidates in a closed session to protect the names of the candidates

Mid-August (Dates TBD)

The Board of Education and stakeholder groups will interview the finalists

End of August

Announce new Superintendent of Schools