• WSSD Families and Community Members 

    Update on Superintendent Search 

    October 21, 2024 

    Dear Wallingford-Swarthmore School Community,

    We are pleased to provide an update on our search process for our next superintendent of schools. After considering proposals from several regional and national search firms, the WSSD Board has contracted with McPherson & Jacobson, LLC as our search partner.  McPherson & Jacobson is a national firm with a local presence, including Dr. Ralph Ferrie, Eastern U.S. regional director, and Dr. Robert Copeland, retired Lower Merion School District Superintendent.  

    We value input from our families and our community, and hope that you will complete a brief  survey, open through October 28, 2024, that will provide information to help guide the search. The link will be available on our website and in various other forums throughout the community. The search firm will also be facilitating several focus groups Ms. Rachel Riley, Communications & Community Relations Liaison, will be posting the dates and locations on the website, as well. We very much appreciate your participation and feedback.

    The search firm has confirmed that for school districts of our size, the strongest candidates are typically more inclined to apply for superintendencies that offer a completely confidential search process. We have agreed to conduct this search with confidentiality, to help us secure the most qualified candidates.

    Our anticipated hiring timeline:

    Week of October 14th Completed 

      • Create criteria for position 
      • Develop plan for stakeholder involvement 
      • Open search, post position  

    October 28th through November 8th 

      • Open survey for WSSD families and community members 
      • WSSD teachers, staff, administrators, families, and community members participate in focus groups 

    November 27th 

      • Close application process 
      • McPherson & Jacobson reviews applications for matches 

    End of December 

      • Board reviews applications and selects candidate pool for interviews 

    Late January 

      • Board interviews final candidates 
      • McPherson & Jacobson complete background checks on finalists 

    February 

      • Board makes final selection and discusses employment offers with finalist

     

    We look forward to a process that will identify outstanding candidates who match our community’s unique qualities and continue implementation of the goals that our community has identified in our strategic plan.   

    Thank you,

    Mary Jo Witkowski-Smith, Chair of WSSD Board Search Committee

     

  • Reminder: Focus Groups and Survey

  • Additional In-Person Focus Group Added

  • Focus Group Request 10.22.24

  • WSSD Qualifications for Superintendent

  • WSSD Community Description

  • The community survey is now available and will remain open until November 8th.

    We encourage everyone to take a few minutes to share their input. Your feedback is critical to the selection of our next superintendent.
    Click here to complete the survey.

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