DRAFT

The Durham Public Schools Board of Education is seeking a superintendent to lead the Durham Public School System in its continuing pursuit of excellence through active reform governance. Candidates must meet the legal requirements to serve as a superintendent in North Carolina. A successful candidate must have broad management experience in a sophisticated organization. Strong educational leadership is preferred, but exceptional non-traditional candidates will be considered. A doctorate degree or progress toward a doctorate degree is strongly preferred, as is superintendent experience or its equivalent. Teaching experience also will be favorably considered. A successful candidate will be required to live in Durham County. Applications are due by February 5, 2010.

The board seeks active candidates who are innovative thinkers with experience working with diverse groups and cultures in urban education and possessing excellent communication and interpersonal skills. A successful candidate must also demonstrate ability and success in:

· fostering widespread support for systemic change;

· dramatically improving and sustaining

student achievement;

· developing community and inter-governmental relationships;

· promoting system-wide equity;

· attracting and retaining strong and diverse educational leaders;

· budgeting and financial management; and

· leveraging community and business partnerships to procure additional funding that ensures the fiscal health of the school system.

Durham is located in central North Carolina and is the home of the “Research Triangle Park”. It offers a vibrant urban lifestyle with a diverse population and many excellent cultural resources. It is home to several fine academic institutions, including Duke University, North Carolina Central University and Durham Technical Community College. The county has a population of approximately 262,000.

The Durham Public Schools system includes 53 schools, and serves approximately 33,000 students from prekindergarten through 12^th grade. It is governed by a seven-member school board. The board is engaged in ongoing reform governance and has recently adopted key policies, including Core Beliefs, Theory of Action, Meet the Challenge, and Community Involvement.

Applicants must complete the Board’s required form. You may obtain the application from the North Carolina Schools Boards Association’s Website: www.NCSBA.org, or inquiries and requests for applications may be directed to Allison Schafer, Legal Counsel/Director of Policy, North Carolina School Boards Association, P. O. Box 97877, Raleigh, NC 27624-7877. Phone: (919) 747-6700. FAX: (919) 841-4020. E-mail: aschafer@ncsba.org. All inquiries will be kept confidential. Applicants are requested to not contact board members.