The Florence/Penrose School District is one step closer to finding a replacement for current Superintendent Brenda Krage, who is set to retire at the end of the 2023-24 school year. The district will host a candidate forum from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Florence Junior/Senior High School, located at 2006 CO-67.
The four candidates scheduled to attend the forum are:
- Christopher Burr, Interim Superintendent, Prairie School District in New Raymer, Colo.
- Michelle Lesser, Executive Director of Education Services, Fremont School District Re-2 in Florence, Colo.
- Tom Meyer, Superintendent of Schools, Bellevue Community School District in Bellevue, Iowa.
- William (Bill) Wilson, Superintendent of Schools, Brush School District Re-2J in Brush, Colo.
The search for the next superintendent began last fall and has been headed by executive recruitment firm McPherson and Jacobson, LLC.
Colorado Search Consultant Walt Cooper shared that the firm sifted through 24 initial applicants and, after an extensive interview process, whittled the field down to the current four candidates.
"There are a lot of people out there looking to do this job that can do the job...it's equally important to be sure we find the right fit for the community because that's what is going to ultimately result in people staying and being effective," Cooper said.
Cooper and the search firm distributed both an online survey and an in-person stakeholder meeting for the community and discovered identifying qualities that the community hoped for in the next superintendent, including:
1. Education experience (classroom and administrative)
2. Strong communication skills
3. Approachable and collaborative
4. Knowledge of and commitment to the community (rural connection)
5. Instructional knowledge
6. Commitment to educating the whole child
The following is a short breakdown of each candidate's experience and accomplishments:
Wilson holds a doctorate in education and has served as the superintendent of the Brush School District since 2015 but has also served as the superintendent at Scott and Greeley County Schools and has been in education since 1992. He has also served (or is currently serving) as an AASA Governance Board Member (2022-current), Colorado Rural Schools Alliance Board Member (2018-current), Morgan Community College Advisory Board Member (current), Chairman – Superintendent's Council for CBOCES (2017-2021), Board Member – CASSA (2018-2021), and CHSAA Budget Committee Member (2018-2022).
Burr has been in education for 27 years and is currently in school to obtain his doctorate in education. He is currently serving as the interim superintendent of the Prairie School District and, in the past, has served as the superintendent at the Upper Rio Grande School District in Del Norte, Colo., and has also been a principal and teacher in the past.
Lesser has served as the Executive Director of Education Services within the Florence/Penrose School District since 2022 and has served as a teacher and principal in the district since 2014. She has been in education since 1997 and has served as a teacher and assistant principal as well. Some of Lesser's accomplishments/awards include National Blue Ribbon Principal, Successful CDE Turnaround Principal, Evans Newton Incorporated Featured Administrator, Tointon Institute for Educational Change Leadership Academy, and High-Performance Model Baldridge Aligned Management System Completion.
Meyer has served as the Superintendent of Schools at the Bellevue Community School District in Bellevue, Iowa, since 2014 and holds a doctorate in personalized leadership. He has been in education since 1993 and has held positions, such as human resource director; technology coordinator and curriculum director. Some of Meyer's accomplishments/awards include the Iowa Business Education Association Distinguished Service Award (2008, 2015, and 2018), Iowa Secondary School Principal of the Year (2011, 2012), School Administrators of Iowa, Legislative Advocacy Team, and Bellevue BIG program administrative supervisor.
View each candidate's full resume at this link.
The forum is open to the public and will be completed in a Q&A format.
After the forum, each candidate will conduct a final interview with the Florence/Penrose Board of Education on Wednesday and a special meeting will be held to formally select the next superintendent, though the special meeting date has yet to be announced.
Whomever is selected to fill Krage's large shoes will officially begin leading the district on July 1.
"They all come from very similar districts, they're all well experienced and they're looking for a small, but not tiny, rural district in Colorado," Cooper said. "They have all demonstrated the skills sets that are important but they have done their research about Florence and Penrose and they really indicated that that's the type of district and the type of community that they are seeking for them and their communities."
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