Superintendent Search

WSSD Families and Community Members 

Update on Superintendent Search 

December 16, 2024 

Dear Wallingford-Swarthmore School Community,

We are pleased to provide an update on our search process for our next superintendent of schools.

We are happy to announce that 32 candidates applied for the position of WSSD superintendent. 

Of the 32 candidates who have applied, the list has been narrowed down to the top 6 candidates.  All 6 are sitting, experienced superintendents and have received information about WSSD priorities and have reviewed the responses from community stake holders. Each of the 6 candidates stated that they have the desire and skills to move our district forward. 

In the next few weeks, all six candidates will be interviewed by our consultants from McPherson and Jacobson.  Interview questions were developed and approved by the board with input from our district administrators.

Interviews will be recorded and the recordings shared with the board prior to our January meeting to evaluate the 6 candidates, and narrow the field to two or three finalists. 

Just a reminder to our community that each board member is being asked to sign a confidentiality agreement to ensure that sitting Superintendent’s applications remain confidential.  As such, board members are not permitted to discuss any of the candidates involved.

Regards,

Mary Jo Witkowski-Smith

Wallingford-Swarthmore School Board

Superintendent Search Update
January 27, 2025

I would like to begin by thanking the board for their diligence in this extraordinary process.  This board has worked tirelessly to fully assess each candidate and to personally meet each of the 4 semi-finalists.

In addition to the usual background checks and resume reviews, board members wrote high quality interview questions that reflected us as a community. We watched recorded interviews from each of the candidates, innumerable school board meetings and recorded candidate presentations.  We listened to and reviewed our stakeholder’s input to understand and to impart the importance of community/teacher/staff and student relations.  We understand that communication style is important to our entire community. We looked for candidates who always put children first.

As part of our process, Districts were evaluated for performance on student measures of success, for their equity practices, their system of student interventions and mental health practices.

Candidates were required to discuss their views on curriculum, instruction and the most effective and innovative practices that allow all students to achieve their fullest potential.

Candidates were evaluated on their expertise in negotiations and finalizing contracts.
Candidates shared their facilities plans, and good stewardship of budgets, Their uses of resources and human capital were evaluated.

Each candidate was required to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of our strategic plan, our community, our strengths and our challenges.  Our our finalists will be required to present a plan to address one of our five pathways. 

At this time, we have decided on two finalists.  The two finalists are both award winning and accomplished leaders of their communities.  Our responsibility now will be to decide which candidate is the best fit for us.  

We are on track to select the best candidate for our district by the end of February.  By keeping to our intended timeline, we are allowing for a smooth transition between our district and the new superintendent. It takes time for a new superintendent to finalize their contract with us and to alert their current employer.  It may take several months before he or she is able join us.  

Our intention is to have a candidate join us this spring. If we accomplish this, the new superintendent will be able to learn about our school community when we are fully running. More importantly, he or she will have the opportunity to thoroughly participate in the planning of the 2025-2026 school year.  When our students and faculty return in September, we will ready.  For these reasons the board has worked tirelessly to maintain our ambitious schedule.  

We look forward to introducing a new superintendent to our community this spring.

Regards,
Mary Jo Witkowski-Smith
On Behalf of the WSSD Board of Directors