Superintendent Search

About the Search

Superintendent Parker has announced he will retire at the end of the current school year. His dedicated service and leadership over the past six years will leave a lasting impact on the students, staff, and community.

The task of selecting a new Superintendent is now underway, a pivotal decision for the continuity and growth of our district. The Forest Grove School District Board of Directors has has engaged the services of Human Capital Enterprises to lead the search process. This consultancy will guide a thorough recruitment procedure throughout the next several months. The new superintendent will assume the role in July 2024.

UPDATES

April 10, 2024

Dear FGSD Families,

The Forest Grove School District Board of Education met in executive session on April 4-5, 2024, with Human Capital Enterprises consultants, to interview semi-finalists for superintendent of schools. Five semifinalists had been selected for first-round interviews from the thirty applicants for the position. As previously announced, applicant names would not be disclosed publicly.

The Board advanced three finalists to interview with a representative confidential community and staff panel held on April 9, 2024. This confidential panel provided feedback to the Board regarding the finalists. The Board determined the composition of the panel, which was facilitated by our search consultants, Human Capital Enterprises. It included:

Three parents selected by lottery, making sure to include Latinx parent voice
A licensed staff member selected by FGEA
A licensed staff member selected by lottery
A classified employee selected by OSEA
A classified or confidential employee by lottery
One elementary and one secondary building administrator, selected by lottery
Two cabinet members, appointed by the Board (CFO and Technology Manager)
Student representative to the Board of Directors

The Board is scheduled to interview finalists in executive session on April 19-20, 2024. The FGSD Board of Education will receive a third-party conducted comprehensive background check on each finalist.

The Board anticipates acting on the sole finalist contract and appointment in an open Special Board Meeting to be scheduled by May 1. At that time, the district will make a public announcement naming the next Superintendent of Forest Grove School District.

Thank you,

Valyrie Ingram

School Board Chair

March 18, 2024

Dear FGSD Families,

The Forest Grove School District Board of Directors met in executive session on March 15, 2024, with Human Capital Enterprises consultants, to review thirty applications for superintendent of schools. As previously announced, applicant names will not be disclosed publicly.

The Board advanced five applicants for 1st round interviews scheduled on April 4-5, 2024. The Board will conduct those interviews in executive session. The Board expects to advance finalists upon the conclusion of those interviews.

Finalists are scheduled to interview with a representative confidential community and staff panel on April 9, 2024.

Subsequently, the Board will interview finalists in executive session on April 18-19, 2024.

Thank you,

Valyrie Ingram

School Board Chair

March 7, 2024

Dear FGSD Families and Staff,

On February 28th, a message was shared regarding the latest update for the Superintendent Search Process. Below you will find the information that was shared in that message regarding the Community Engagement Interview Panel.

As a reminder, if you are interested in participating on the panel in one of the lottery-selected positions, please complete this form before tomorrow (March 8, 2024) at 12:00 noon. You must be available to participate all day (8:00am to 5:00pm) in virtual interviews with candidates on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Those selected by lottery will be notified on Monday, March 11, 2024.

A group of 12 stakeholders, the Staff and Community Engagement Interview Panel, will interview the finalists on April 9, 2024. This confidential panel will provide feedback to the Board regarding the finalists. The Board has determined the composition of the panel, which will be facilitated by our search consultants, Human Capital Enterprises. It will include:

- Three parents selected by lottery, making sure to include Latinx parent voice
- A licensed staff member selected by FGEA
- A licensed staff member selected by lottery
- A classified employee selected by OSEA
- A classified or confidential employee by lottery
- One elementary and one secondary building administrator, selected by lottery
- Two cabinet members, appointed by the Board (CFO and Technology Manager)
- Student representative to the Board of Directors

We hope that you’ll consider playing a role in this critical process for the Forest Grove School District.

Thank you!

Valyrie Ingram

Board Chair

February 28, 2024

Greetings, Forest Grove School District Community,

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to share a quick progress update on the search for our next Superintendent.

The recruitment window for applications will close on March 4, 2024. In the following weeks, the Board will review applications, references, and preliminary interview transcripts and will convene on March 15th in executive session to select semi-finalists. They will be invited to interview virtually with the board on April 4th and 5th. From those interviews, the Board will select finalists.

Three parents selected by lottery, making sure to include Latinx parent voice
A licensed staff member selected by FGEA
A licensed staff member selected by lottery
A classified employee selected by OSEA
A classified or confidential employee by lottery
One elementary and one secondary building administrator, selected by lottery
Two cabinet members, appointed by the Board (CFO and Technology Manager)
Student representative to the Board of Directors

If you are interested in participating on the panel in one of the lottery-selected positions, please complete this form no later than 12:00 noon, Friday, March 8, 2024. You must be available to participate all day (8:00am to 5:00pm) in virtual interviews with candidates on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Those selected by lottery will be notified on Monday, March 11, 2024. We hope that you’ll consider playing a role in this critical process for Forest Grove School District.

Thank you!

Valyrie Ingram

Board Chair

February 6, 2024

Dear FGSD Families,

The Forest Grove School District School Board acted on the Next Superintendent Ideal Profile: Qualifications and Criteria at a special board meeting on February 5, 2024. The Board met with Human Capital Enterprises (HCE) to review and revise the draft profile which had been prepared by HCE consultants after reviewing input from over 250 stakeholders- students, staff, parents, community leaders, and district patrons. The input was gathered through 1:1 interviews, focus groups, and an on-line community survey. Participants were asked about Forest Grove School District’s strengths, challenges, and personal and professional qualities, attributes, skills, and experiences desired in Forest Grove’s next superintendent of schools. Additional public input was solicited by the Board at its special board meeting prior to action.

The Forest Grove School District Next Superintendent Ideal Profile: Qualifications and Criteria serves to identify the specific criteria that the consultants will use in recruiting outstanding prospects for the position. It also is a key document the Board will use in its deliberations in the selection phase of the search.

The search now enters the recruitment phase. The vacancy is posted at Human Capital Enterprises and on Forest Grove Superintendent Search landing page. Additionally, the job posting will be advertised through the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA), Washington Association of School Administrators, and released nationally through HCE’s 40,000 listserv subscriber network. The application closes on March 4.

For more information on the search process, please visit the district website.

Thank you,

Valyrie Ingram

School Board Chair

January 18, 2024

Dear FGSD Families/Staff,

We know you’ve been receiving a lot of weather related notifications from the district these past few days. So we apologize for yet another notification. However, this message is not related to the snow/ice/slush outside.

The School Board is continuing the search process for the next superintendent who will lead our district. We need your input as we strive to compile the attributes that best represent what our district and community want to see in our next leader.

Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing this short five question survey. We need your input. Your voices are important to us and will play an integral role in the selection of our next superintendent.

If you are looking to get out of the house after the weather event we just went through, there is an opportunity to talk with one of the facilitators in person on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 9:00 & 10:30 am at Cornelius Elementary School or 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm at Joseph Gale Elementary School. These sessions will be in Spanish and English and light snacks will be provided. The famous Forest Grove High School Mariachi Band will be performing at Cornelius Elementary School at 10:00 am and the AmeriCorps Team will be conducting a MLK event for kids from 9:00 to noon.

Be safe out there.

Sincerely,

Valyrie Ingram

School Board Chair

January 8, 2024

Dear FGSD Families,

Forest Grove School District is excited to begin its search for our next superintendent. The Forest Grove School Board has partnered with Human Capital Enterprises to lead the search. Over the coming weeks, we invite you to be part of the process! Over the next several weeks, FGSD will be inviting stakeholder input through an online survey. The survey is published in English and Spanish and should take no more than 15 minutes to complete. The survey will close on January 22, 2024.

Forest Grove School District Superintendent Search Community/Staff Survey

Your voices are important to us and will play an integral role in the selection of our next superintendent. We look forward to continuing this work with you.

Sincerely,

Valyrie Ingram

School Board Chair

January 2, 2024

Dear FGSD Families,

Earlier this school year, Superintendent Parker announced that he will be retiring at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Since his announcement we, the school board, have established a process to select the new leader for our district. This decision is extremely important and we take it very seriously. We care deeply about our district and we are committed to finding the right person to become the next leader serving our students, families, staff, and community.

We are also committed to a transparent process to increase awareness and encourage community participation in the superintendent search. This message is an update on what has been put in place so far and what the next steps will be in the process.

The search process is outlined below:

Planning Phase COMPLETED: Selecting a search firm, finalizing a search timeline, and acting on a recommended search process. The Board finalized the Forest Grove School District Superintendent Search Timeline and Activities at a December 14, 2023, special Board meeting. Additionally, the Board has also committed to regular communication updates regarding the search process.
Stakeholder Engagement Phase JANUARY 8- JANUARY 22, 2024: Community engagement and feedback activities will gather input to create an ideal leadership profile. This will be finalized by the Board and once acted upon, will serve as our Next Superintendent Criteria. If you are interested in participating in one of these with our HCE consultants, please complete this staff application form or this parent application form no later than January 9th. Participants will be selected through a random lottery, with care to ensure representation across buildings and programs. Additionally, an on-line survey will be launched on January 8th. A separate search update scheduled to be released next week will invite stakeholders to complete this survey.
Recruiting Phase FEBRUARY 6- MARCH 4, 2024: Human Capital Enterprises will advertise and recruit nationally for candidates that match the approved Next Superintendent Qualifications and Criteria.
Selection Phase MARCH 15- MAY 1, 2024: This includes interviews with candidates and an extensive review process. In addition to multiple rounds of interviews with the Board, finalist candidates will also be interviewed by a Stakeholder Panel consisting of students, district employees, parents and community leaders. The feedback received from this panel will be reviewed by the Board.
Transition Phase MAY 2, 2024-JUNE 30, 2024: Introducing the new Superintendent to all areas of our school community. Although the new Superintendent does not officially assume duties until July 1, 2024, we envision on-boarding activities to begin shortly thereafter, including community-wide “meet-and-greet” opportunities.

Visit Forest Grove School District Next Superintendent Search webpage to learn more about the search process details. You can also access this information in multiple languages by accessing translate at the top right hand side the top menu bar.

Please be on the look-out for a community-wide survey seeking input regarding our next superintendent. That survey is set to be released on January 8, 2024. We appreciate your feedback and active participation in this process. Your voices are important to us and will play a vital role in the selection of our next superintendent. We look forward to continuing this work with you.

Sincerely,

Valyrie Ingram

School Board Chair

December 20, 2023

The Forest Grove School District Board of Directors is partnering with Human Capital Enterprises in the selection of our next Superintendent of Schools - assuming responsibilities July 1, 2024. Please watch for the official posting coming February 4, 2024. For initial information including timeline, please see the Human Capital Enterprises website, www.humancapitalenterprises.com. You may also reach out to Robyn Bean, Robyn@humancapitalenterprises.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQ

How does the search process work?

The Board is working with Human Capital Enterprises to conduct a rigorous, nationwide search. The Board will seek, receive, and review all input from the community; review all candidate applications; interview candidates determined by the Board; and select the new superintendent.

When will the new Superintendent be hired?

The Board has set a timeline to recruit, interview, and hire the new Superintendent of Schools to begin their term on July 1, 2024.

How and when do parents and other education partners weigh-in?

The Board will solicit public input on the characteristics, experience, and skills desired in the next superintendent through an online survey and in-person focus group sessions.

When will the District share the collected input with the public?

All information gathered through focus groups and the Superintendent Search Survey will be compiled, summarized, and incorporated into the “Next Superintendent Criteria”, which will be published on the district website for community feedback and presented to the Board with opportunity for public testimony.

Who will make the final selection?

By law, the Board is solely responsible for hiring the new superintendent. The Board will seek, receive, and consider all input from the community, review all applications, interview those candidates determined by the Board, and select the new superintendent.

Can we find out who is applying?

All application materials, including the names of applicants and any other personally identifiable information, are confidential.

How does this search differ from previous Forest Grove superintendent searches?

Historically, FGSD's recent superintendent searches culminated in a process whereby finalists (typically two or three) are introduced to the community through a series of public events. Stakeholders – whether parents, students, staff, or community members – weighed in and provided feedback regarding the candidates. The Board then deliberated and selected their preferred finalist to be the next Superintendent of Schools.

Conversely, the Board has chosen to engage with the community through focus groups, an on-line community-wide superintendent search survey, and a panel of community representatives who will interview the finalists with the intention of seeking high-level, high-leverage input from our stakeholders. This process does not include a public pronouncement of finalists, which as we discuss below, can create a serious impediment to attracting the most exceptional talent. At the same time, it augments rather than reduces the quality of community feedback regarding the finalists.

What is the rationale for taking a different approach in this search?

1. Quality of Pool

Top-tier, experienced superintendent candidates are shying away from superintendent search processes in which their names are surfaced publicly prior to selection. This has always been problematic – but in the current era, where superintendents of great talent are in higher demand than ever before – top-drawer candidates are increasingly selective. Many successful superintendents will opt out of a search process where they will be publicly identified as finalists for a job that they may not ultimately get.

Recent superintendent searches from districts where finalists’ names are publicly revealed evidence that experienced superintendents are opting out of this kind of a process.

2. Quality of Community Feedback

Although there is sometimes a tendency to think that more feedback is better, in actuality that’s not our experience. Large-scale qualitative feedback is very difficult – if not impossible – to turn into usable feedback for the Board in the short turnaround time that is required. Other areas of concern, such as feedback from stakeholders who may have only watched a single candidate – or who have a strong bias toward a candidate and a large network of friends and colleagues – creates some complexities. Quantitative feedback on finalists in a superintendent search is of some, but limited, value.

3. Equity

In searches where there is a large-scale amount of feedback, it can feel overwhelming to board members to make sense of the various voices providing feedback. When that happens, it is not atypical that we, human beings that we are, elevate the voices most proximate to us to a higher level of influence: our spouses and partners; our neighbors; our kids; our friends; our colleagues. Members of our close circles will have observed finalist processes and they will have their opinions that they eagerly share with us. Because their opinions matter to us, we are influenced by them.

But in a search where a finite number of individuals are providing feedback – individuals who for the most part are not identifiable and represent a broad and diverse array of stakeholders – the Board will truly hear the diverse voices of a representative sample of the community.

Has this been done before?

Yes, in many places. Recent searches in Medford, Beaverton, Portland, San Francisco, and Salem-Keizer all employed a similar path.

How can the public follow this process?

Updates regarding the superintendent search process will be posted here. The Board will also provide updates at its regularly scheduled board meetings and future press releases.

Important Resources