The Covington Independent Public Schools Board of Education voted last week to officially begin advertising the job opening for a new district superintendent.
The move follows current Superintendent Alvin Garrison‘s planned retirement at the end of this academic year, as well as a long public input process that included online surveys, public community input sessions and focus groups.
“We are rewriting the rules to meet the moment of where we are as a district and a city – this is a true inflection point for Covington schools,” Board of Education Chair Tom Haggard said. “Thus, it was important that this job profile represent not only what the board wants in its next superintendent but also what the community wants in that leader.”
According to a press release from the board, the input process revealed some key desires from the community, including:
- Improved academic outcomes
- Increased work-based learning opportunities to help students prepare for careers and post-secondary education
- More family and student input on decision making
- Improved communication from the district
- A new superintendent with experience in the following:
- change management
- academic turnaround
- diagnostic and systems-based thinking
- authentic communication
- consensus and coalition building
- A superintendent who could “drive significant improvements in student achievement; develop a culture of accountability, transparency, excellence and continuous improvement; build high-performing systems, structures, and leaders; maintain strong financial stewardship; and leverage city and community partnerships,” according to the board’s release.
The board contracted with Chicago-based consulting firm Alma Advisory Group in September to head up the search process. You can learn more about the search process at covington.kyschools.us/page/superintendent-search and check out the superintendent application itself here.