(The following submission is part of a monthly series of editorials, courtesy of our partnership with North Penn School District and the North Penn Board of School Directors.)
Choosing a Superintendent of Schools is one of the most important responsibilities of a school board. The job is multi-faceted and essential to the success of a school district. The superintendent oversees all of the district's operations. They are responsible for implementing the district's vision, managing the district's budget and staff, and serving as the educational leader for all the district's schools. Seeking a qualified candidate who can fulfill those responsibilities for the seventh largest district in the state of Pennsylvania is no easy task.
For the past 12 years, Dr. Curt Dietrich has been at North Penn's helm. He has led North Penn through good and difficult times. He steered the district through a nationwide financial crisis early in his tenure and navigated the COVID-19 pandemic at its closure. In between, he oversaw the initiation of full day Kindergarten, implemented the Chromebook one-to-one initiative, and oversaw the operations of a district perennially recognized as one of the nation's top school districts. He is the longest serving superintendent in Montgomery County, and his shoes will be difficult to fill.
One of the first steps in the process of identifying a new leader for North Penn was to define the qualities we want to see in Dr. Dietrich's successor. The process began with interviews of many stakeholder groups including students, teachers and staff, administrators, faith-based leaders, local government officials, Home and School Association members, Parents in Equity representatives and Special Education Alliance members. These conversations were crucial to creating a leadership profile of the qualities the North Penn community wants to see in a new superintendent.
In addition to the focus groups, a survey was provided to the community as well. That survey received a tremendous response with 3,844 community members taking the time to share their thoughts. Of those 3,844, 2,247 were students. It is critical that students have a voice in this process, and they clearly agree!
As Board Directors, we have a vision for the district, and it is now our responsibility to match the qualities articulated by the community to a professional we can expect to implement that vision. We are seeking a strong educational leader who understands that decisions should be made with an equity lens. They should be a relationship builder and an exceptional communicator who is innovative, transparent, and ready to hit the ground running. We encourage all to read the leadership profile that was crafted by Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA), the executive search and consulting firm hired to assist in this process, based on the input the community has provided.
Over the next few weeks, the board will closely work alongside HYA to undertake the task of interviewing potential candidates from around the country who demonstrate qualities requisite to lead a district as exceptional North Penn. We anticipate voting to approve of a new superintendent by June. As directors, we appreciate the weight and responsibility tied to this decision as we recognize the impact it will have on the community for years to come. Whoever the chosen candidate, whether they hail from near or far, we will know we used the most extensive and thorough process to inform our decision.
Sincerely,
Christian Fusco
Vice President, NPSD Board of School Directors
Term Expiration: 2025
See also:
Editorial: The Search for a New Superintendent
Editorial: Summer School Programs Supply Educational Enrichment
North Penn High School Seeking Local Businesses to Host Student Interns
North Penn High School Students Participating in District and Regional Bands
