Here's How Shaker Schools Will Find Its Next Superintendent

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH — Current Shaker Heights Schools Superintendent Gregory Hutchings will leave the district on June 30. The Shaker Board of Education announced that it will appoint an interim superintendent in the spring and then hire a firm to help conduct a thorough search for a permanent replacement for Hutchings.

The interim superintendent will come on in the spring so that they can learn from Hutchings while he is still with the district. That should, the Board said in a statement, ease the transition while the district searches for its next, permanent superintendent.

"The search will move into high gear sometime in the fall of 2018. The first step in the process will be to work with our entire school community, Shaker Heights residents and community leaders to build a profile for the skill set and leadership qualities we want for our next superintendent. At the core, we are searching for an innovative leader who will passionately pursue our goals of excellence, equity and exploration for every student," the Board said in a statement posted to the district's website.

The Board has decided to wait a year to hire a permanent superintendent because of the cycle for hiring candidates. Candidates for superintendent positions tend to identify possible jobs in the fall, go through the search process in the winter and then sign contracts in the spring, the Board said.

"Over the next few months, the Board will identify a number of candidates to operate the District for the 2018-19 academic year. As a group, the Board will interview candidates, verify references, and complete the appropriate qualification reviews, prior to selecting the interim superintendent.

"Importantly, given the short duration of the interim role, the selection process will not include a process for broad community input. The Board has already been in contact with resources that will help identify interim superintendent candidates," the Board said.

The interim superintendent will not be considered in the Board's search for a permanent replacement to Hutchings.

Hutchings announced in December 2017 that he is returning to his hometown of Alexandria, Va. where he will become superintendent of the Alexandria City Public Schools. Hutchings became Shaker's superintendent in 2013. During his tenure with the district, he expanded the International Baccalaureate (IB) Organization to all buildings and programs in grades PreK-12. He also oversaw the passing of a $30 million bond levy and Shaker's first permanent improvement levy.

Photo from Shutterstock