Position Title: Superintendent

Salary: Current superintendent’s salary is $200,000. New superintendent’s salary is competitive and negotiable depending on qualifications and experience.

Closing Date: July 1, 2008

Downloads:

• Job Application
• Job Brochure

The Position

The Governing Board of the San Juan Unified School District is seeking an experienced and successful visionary educational leader with successful experience with a collaborative management style to serve as its district superintendent. The successful candidate will be an articulate team builder, skillful in organizing and managing all facets of the school district. This individual will be an excellent communicator who is a good listener, gathers input for decisions, and is courageous in making difficult decisions that are in the best interest of the students. He/she will possess a thorough knowledge of curriculum and instruction and a record of prudent fiscal management. As the spokesperson for education in the community, the superintendent will communicate regularly with parents, businesses, service organizations and governmental agencies to build partnerships.

The Community

San Juan Unified School District is located in suburban Sacramento County just 11 miles from the state capitol. Within a two-hour drive are Lake Tahoe and the historic gold rush towns to the east and the Napa Valley wine country, San Francisco and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Mild winters and dry summers, low humidity and an average yearly rainfall of 17.4 inches characterize the climate.

The area offers affordable housing, regional businesses, shopping centers, great schools, beautiful parks and a wide offering of youth programs. Nearby are outstanding universities and recreational areas for water sports, biking, hiking and golf. Sacramento is family-friendly and a great place in which to live, work and play.

The District

The San Juan Unified School District is the thirteenth largest school district in California with approximately 5,000 full-time employees and 72 schools. Of the 42,000 K-12 students, 32 percent are minorities and 65 languages are spoken. The average class size is 20 in K-3, 30 in grades 4-6, and 33 in grades 7-12. Thirty percent of students are free and reduced lunch eligible and the district serves 19,000 standard lunches daily. The district also has an outstanding early childhood education program serving more than 3,700 students and an expansive adult education program serving more than 14,000 members of the community.

The general fund budget for FY 2007-08 is $367 million. The district is nearing completion of facility work authorized five years ago with the passage of a $350 million bond initiative.

Students consistently score above state and national norms on standardized tests.

The San Juan district is committed to providing a safe learning environment for all students. The district partners with the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department and the City of Citrus Heights to provide “Safe School Officers” throughout the district. Each campus also maintains a safe school team and updated safety plan.

District schools offer a wide variety of career technical education courses ranging from agriculture to culinary arts, automotive technology, media production and more. The board has recently authorized a redesign of the academic program at the district’s namesake high school, San Juan High, to blend CTE classes with academics in an environment suitable for 21st century learning.

San Juan Unified School District has been recognized throughout the state and nationally for its outstanding accomplishments. Past recognition has included Money Magazine selecting San Juan as one of the top districts in the nation. Many district schools have been identified as California Distinguished Schools, and one high school has received the National Blue Ribbon award. Each year, the district produces a large number of National Merit scholars and provides the only International Baccalaureate program in the region to include middle years I.B. program.

The district has made significant progress in infusing technology into classrooms. One example is the 2006 reconstitution of Jonas Salk Middle School that became a high-tech academy offering students a 1:1 laptop ratio, school-wide wireless network and a new way of learning. Results of the reconstitution have made regional and state headlines and now serve as a model for other school redesign efforts. Other technology improvement efforts have included interactive whiteboards, online learning and online collaboration tools for teachers.

The impacts of declining enrollment have been felt in the district since 2004. The downward enrollment trend has showed signs of slowing and possibly leveling off during the last year.

Selection Criteria

The following criteria represent standards to be used in the evaluation of applications and in the selection of the superintendent.

Professional Experience and Preparation

• Experience as a superintendent or at the district office level is highly desirable
• Experience with grades K-12 as an administrator or classroom teacher is desirable
• Master’s degree required; doctorate desirable

Personal Characteristics

• Unquestioned integrity with demonstrated leadership skills
• An assertive leader and problem solver, able to make difficult decisions in a timely manner and monitor results
• Sets clear expectations for staff; insists on evaluation of performance at all levels
• Is an accessible, active listener who demonstrates respect for students, staff, board, parents and the community
• Possesses the qualities of foresight, trustworthiness and forthrightness in dealing with the board, parents, staff and community
• Demonstrates an ability to create a district climate of inclusion, cooperation and collaboration
• Excellent communication skills – both oral and written – and a record of effective communication with the board, staff and community
• A team builder with a talent for building staff morale and eliciting high performance
• Able to create an environment for staff and board which promotes professional satisfaction and trust
• Appreciates, acknowledges and celebrates contributions and achievements of all staff towards the mission and goals of the district

Professional Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates fiscal expertise that allows oversight of the budget and budget development process
• Demonstrates an ability to maximize the use of available resources of state funding
• Is able to address the district’s declining enrollment to effectively meet the education needs of all students
• Demonstrates success in working with the school board to build a strong governance team, who ensures that the board receives appropriate information, advice and recommendations
• Is a strong curriculum leader with a dedication to educational excellence and equitable opportunities for all students
• Is sensitive and responsive to the needs of diverse groups – ethnically and socio-economically; promotes and commits to “cultural proficiency” throughout the organization
• Is successful in creating a positive relationship of cooperation and collaboration with employee unions and a proven track record of utilizing interest-based bargaining in labor negotiations
• Demonstrates a commitment to and values the importance of parental involvement
• Is a visible ambassador for the district and is actively involved in the schools and community
• Establishes a relationship with the media
• Demonstrates an ability to collaborate with city, county, state and federal agencies
• Develops partnerships with the business community and institutions of higher learning

Application Procedure

All applications will be held strictly confidential. Each applicant is requested to follow the procedures listed below. Those applicants wishing additional information should contact the CSBA adviser at (916) 212-9905. For duplication purposes, please do not bind application materials.

Applications are to be sent to:
San Juan Unified School District
c/o Mr. Barry Reed, Consultant
California School Boards Association
Executive Search Services
3100 Beacon Blvd., Suite San Juan
West Sacramento, CA 95691

All applicants must provide the following items by the closing date, July 1, 2008 (5:00 p.m.), to be considered:

• A completed Application Information Form. (Please complete as instructed; do not complete by stating “see attached résumé”.) The Application Information Form and brochure may be downloaded via CSBA’s Web page at www.csba.org
• A personal letter of application stating reasons for interest in the San Juan Unified School District superintendent position
• A résumé providing biographical background information about educational preparation, experience and achievements
• A placement file and/or five (5) current letters of professional references describing the applicant’s performance in previously held positions

It is the applicant’s responsibility to arrange to have placement papers or reference letters forwarded in time to meet the July 1, 2008 (5:00 p.m.) deadline. Additional brochures may be requested by calling the CSBA 24-hour Brochure Request Line at (916) 669-3296.

Selection Procedure

A professional screening committee will evaluate the qualifications of each applicant. The board and the screening committee will use the described criteria during the screening, interviewing and final decision-making process. After receiving and studying the report of the screening committee, the board will select and interview the top candidates.

The board will select candidates for the final interviews. The Superintendent Selection Advisory Committee will interview the final candidates and report the perceived strengths and weaknesses to the board. The board will then conduct final interviews and select the superintendent. Any applicant who contacts a board member with the intent of influencing the board’s decision will be disqualified.

Travel expenses for those candidates selected for the initial interview will be the responsibility of the candidate.

Applications Close: July 1, 2008- (5:00 p.m.)

Interviews tentatively scheduled for July 17, 18 and 19, 2008.

Salary and Contract Terms

The San Juan Unified School District Board of Education will offer a salary of that is competitive and negotiable and includes fringe benefits to the successful candidate, based on that individual’s experience and qualifications. The board intends to offer a multi-year contract. The present superintendent’s salary is approximately $200,000.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to provide the district with employment eligibility and verification of citizenship in compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act.

Board of Education