mclean county unit district # 5 · cultural diversity and works to engage all students, parents and...

MCLEANCOUNTYUNITDISTRICT#5NewSuperintendentProfileReport

October30,2019

DianeRobertson,LindaHansonandRobertHanson

CONSULTANTS:Ms.DianeRobertsonandDr.JillHawk

THEBOARDREQUESTEDTHECONSULTANTSTO:

■  ConductFocusGroupswithawidevarietyofstakeholders

■  ConductanOn-lineSurveytogatherinputfromschoolstaff,parents,studentsandcommunitymembers

■  CreateaNewSuperintendentProfilebasedoninformationgatheredfromthesesources

HOWPROFILEREPORTWILLBEUSED

■  TheBoardandConsultantswillusetheNewSuperintendentProfileastheyscreen,developquestionsandconductinterviewswithcandidates.

■  TheBoardofEducationmayusethisProfileReporttofind

outmoreaboutthethinkingoftheDistrict’sconstituents.■  ThecandidatesandthecommunitymayusethisProfile

ReporttofindoutaboutthestrengthsandchallengesoftheDistrict.

FOCUSGROUP/SURVEYQUESTIONS

■  WhatareyourDistrict’sgreateststrengthsandattributes?WhywouldanewsuperintendentwanttocometothisDistrict?

■  WhatareyourDistrict’sgreatestchallenges?Whatshouldanewsuperintendentknowbeforehe/sheacceptsthisresponsibility?

QUESTIONS,CONTINUED

■  Whatshouldtheprioritiesbeforthenewsuperintendentduringhisorherfirstyear?

■  WhatarethemostimportantcharacteristicsandskillsthenewsuperintendentneedstopossesstobesuccessfulinthisDistrict?

SUMMARYOFDATACOLLECTION

■  FocusGroups/Forums:208Attendees (15FocusGroupsand2OpenForums)

■  OnlineSurvey: 1134Responses

■  Duetosamplingmethods,theresultingreportisnotascientificstudyandprovidesonlytheperceptionsofthosewhorespondedorparticipated

■  Inthesurveyreport,percentagesarerounded

FOCUSGROUPS/OPENFORUMS

15FocusGroups(149Attendees)

Parents,CommunityMembers,Students,CertifiedandNon-CertifiedStaff,BuildingandDistrictAdministratorsandtheBoardofEducation

2OpenForums(59Attendees)DistrictStaffMembersandCommunityMembers

DISTRICT/COMMUNITYSTRENGTHS

■ Vibrant,thrivingcommunity;lotsofamenitiesandopportunitiesforkidsandfamilies■ Dedicated,excellentteachersandstaff■ Greatlocationwithproximityto3largerurbanareas■ Diverse,yetclose-knitcommunity;“bigsmalltown”■ Affordablecostofliving,safeandwelcoming,greatplacetoraiseafamily■ Partnershipswithlocalbusinesses,communityorganizations,collegesanduniversities;“benevolentcommunity’■ ISU,Heartland,WesleyanandLincoln

DISTRICT/COMMUNITYSTRENGTHS■ Widevarietyofprogramofferings;academicandco-curricular,educatingthe“wholechild’;SocialEmotionalLearning■ Strongparentandcommunityengagementandsupport■ Innovative,progressiveprograms■ Highacademicperformanceandhighgraduationrates■ Domorewithless■ Specialeducationservices■ Parksystem■ Livethemissionofserving“eachstudent”

DISTRICTCHALLENGES

■  Transportation■  Financialstructuraldeficitof10milliondollars+■  Noclearvision■  Needforstaffthatmorecloselymirrorstheracialmakeupof

thestudentpopulation■  Ineffectivecommunication■  Inequitiesinacademicachievementanddiscipline■  Lackofclearprocessestoimplementnewprograms■  Sizeofdistrict;milesandstudents

DISTRICTCHALLENGES

■  Lowstaffmorale■  Silosdevelopduetolackofunifyingvisionandclearrole

definition■  Standards-basedgrading■  Clear,timely,effectivedecision-makingprocesses■  Leadershipteamthatisbalancedbygenderandrace■  Inclusivenessofstakeholdersindecisions■  Responsivenessfromunitofficetothebuildings■  Varianceindemographicsofbuildingpopulations,sizes

FOCUSAREASINFIRSTYEAR

■  Fixtransportation■  Developastrategyforfinancialhealth■  Developauthenticrelationshipswithinthedistrictand

community;learntheculture■  Developadistrictvisionanddirectionincollaborationwith

stakeholders■  Developstrategyforrecruitingminorities■  Conductanauditoftheadministrativestructureand

effectiveness

DESIREDSKILLS/CHARACTERISTICS■  Highlyvisibleintheschoolsandcommunity;approachable■  Visionaryandstrategic■  Relationshipbuilder■  Effectivecommunicator,activelistener;canexplaincomplicatedissues

clearly■  Proactiveanddecisive■  UnderstandsthecultureoftheUnit5districtandcommunities■  Hasatrackrecordofworkingeffectivelywithdiversecommunities■  Holdsothersaccountable■  Isreliable;followsthroughwithcommitmentsandpromises■  UnderstandingofaPreK-12schooldistrict■  Passionate■  Knowsschoolfinance,bestpracticesandhowtoleadchange

SURVEYDEMOGRAPHICS1134TOTALRESPONSES

●  Parent 569 50%

●  StaffMember 380 33%

●  Student 14613%

●  Community/Business 313%

●  Other 8 1%

EDUCATIONALSTRENGTHS●  QualityofTeachingStaff 69%●  UseofTechnologyforLearning 43%●  SchoolLearningEnvironment 34%●  Challenging,QualityCurriculum 28%●  OpportunitiesforStudentsOutsidethe26%

Classroom

NEEDEDEDUCATIONALIMPROVEMENTS

● VisionfortheDirectionoftheSchoolDistrict 36%● QualityofAdministrators 31%● PreparingStudentstobeProductiveCitizens 31%● TailoringInstructiontoIndividualStudentNeeds 28%● InstructionalMethodsthatEngageStudents 28%

ORGANIZATIONALANDMANAGERIALSTRENGTHS

● CleanandAttractiveSchools 50%● StudentSafety 44%● CommunicationwithParentsandCommunity 34%● CommunitySupportofEducation 31%

NEEDEDORGANIZATIONANDMANAGERIALIMPROVEMENTS

●  StaffMorale 48%●  StewardshipofFinancialResources 40%●  StudentConductandDiscipline 38%●  CommunicationwithParentsandCommunity36%

PRIORITIESFORNEWSUPERINTENDENT● StudentWellBeing(EmotionallySafe/Confident) 54%● 21stCenturySkills 46%● StudentGrowthandAchievementforAll 45%● FinancialIssues 39%

CHARACTERISTICS/SKILLSNEEDEDFORNEWSUPERINTENDENT

● Clearvisionforleading;inspiresothers 55%● Deepknowledgeofcurriculumandlearning 54%● Buildsgoodteams;bringsoutbestinothers 48%● Ischild-centered 44%● Holdsothersaccountable 43%● Collaborative;includesothersindecision-making 42%● Warmpeopleskills;approachable 40%● UnderstandsfinanceandbusinesssideofDistrict 40%

EMERGENTTHEMES

➢ Trust ➢ Communication➢ Transportation➢ ProgramDesign,ImplementationandEvaluation➢ Finance➢ Diversity➢ VisibilityandRelationships➢ Equity

EMERGENTTHEMES

➢ ContinuityandConsistency➢ Accountability➢ VisionaryLeadership➢ InstructionalKnowledgePreK-12➢ WholeChildFocus

NEWSUPERINTENDENTPROFILE

TheNewSuperintendentShouldBeaPersonWho:

■  Fostersanenvironmentrelentlesslyfocusedonstudents,basedontrustanddedicatedtoexcellence.

■  Inpartnershipwithstakeholders,createsacompellingvisionandleadstheDistricttowardimplementation.

■  IsdedicatedtoandinvolvedwiththecommunitiesthatcompriseUnit5;isvisibleandengaged.

NEWSUPERINTENDENTPROFILE

TheNewSuperintendentShouldBeaPersonWho:

■  Hasexperienceanddemonstratedunderstandingof

culturaldiversityandworkstoengageallstudents,parentsandstakeholdersintheeducationalprocess.

■  Isaproactiveproblem-solverwhoclearlydelineatesrolesandresponsibilitiesinordertoeffectivelyandefficientlyaddressproblemsandissueswithinUnit5.

■  Hireswell,delegateseffectively,providestargetedprofessionaldevelopmentandensuresaccountabilityinordertodevelopandsustainaneffective,diverseandexcellentUnit5staff.

NEWSUPERINTENDENTPROFILE

TheNewSuperintendentShouldBeaPersonWho:■  Isdedicatedtotheeducationofthewholechildyetseeksthesuccessof“eachchild”;ensuresstudentsaresafeandsecure

■  IsknowledgeableaboutIllinoisschoolfinanceandstrategicallytargetslimitedresourcestowarddistrictpriorities.

■  Hasexperienceanddemonstratedsuccessinleadinginnovationandchangeincludingknowingwhentostopinitiatives.

NEWSUPERINTENDENTPROFILE

TheNewSuperintendentShouldBeaPersonWho:

■  Haswarmpeopleskills;isapproachableandgenuine.Demonstratesasincereinterestintheideasandopinionsofothers.

■  Isaneffectivecommunicatorwhocanconveycomplexinformationinamannerthatiscleartoavarietyofaudiences.

■  Modelshighstandardsandholdsothersaccountableinafair,consistentmanner.

NEXTSTEPS■  Consultantsrecruit,conductinterviewsandmakereference

checksusingtheNewSuperintendentProfile

■  ConsultantsrecommendcandidatestotheBoard;conductinterviewworkshop;preparesalary/benefitscomparisons

■  Boardconductsfirstinterviews;choosesfinalists

■  Boardholdssecondinterviews;hearscandidatepresentations;interviewcommitteesalsointerviewcandidates

■  Boardmakesselectionoffinalist;conductsreferencechecks,negotiatesthecontract

■  NewSuperintendentbeginsdutiesonJuly1,2020