Jacobus Finalist for ISD 833 Superintendent Job

After a round of interviews Saturday, Assistant Superintendent Keith Jacobus was named a finalist for a superintendent job in the South Washington County School District 833.

District 833 will chose between Jacobus and Lolli Haws South Washington County Schools Superintendent Mark Porter.

Jacobus is currently serving as assistant superintendent of Leadership, Teaching and Learning, for the Osseo Area School District 279.

He has also been director of schools for the Douglas County School District in Castle Rock, Colo. Other administrative experiences include being the executive director of Learning Services, and Executive Director of Personnel Services, and principal for the Lewis-Palmer High School, all with the Lewis-Palmer School District in Monument, Colo.

Jacobus’ degrees include a Ph.D. from the University of Denver, master’s in Education from Lesley College and BS from Colorado State University.

When asked what he’s learned about the South Washington County School District through his research he said, “I’ve heard wonderful things about the culture of this district being student-centered and people-centered.”

In the release, he added that a culture that included this focus would be important. If selected as superintendent, he would like employees and others to say, “at least Keith knows what I’m doing.”

In the release, he said he would work to be visible to the point that people recognize that he is well aware of what is going on across the district [ISD 833].

The other contender for the District 833 job is Lolli Haws who is currently the instructional superintendent for District of Columbia Public Schools, Washington D.C. Haws also has experience as an elementary school principal in the Virginia and Missouri.

After finalist interviews, the South Washington County School Board is expected to make a decision May 9 or 10 and its new superintendent to start July 1, 2012.

South Washington County School District 833 serves communities such as Woodbury and Cottage Grove.

Editor’s note: Be sure to follow Maple Grove Patch on Twitter, like us on Facebook and sign up for our newsletters, which send you updates about stories, breaking news, announcements, events and blogs on the site.