Provo City School District unveils survey results on superintendent search
Courtesy Provo City School District
The all-female Provo City School District Board of Education, as of Jan. 1, 2023.According to 1,599 respondents of the Provo City School District’s open survey on their search for a new superintendent, the most important quality in a leader is that they are willing to collaborate with educators to improve the success of students and to decide on the educational direction of the district.
“The most important superintendent qualities are moral character, leadership skills, and effective communication,” Y2K Analytics representative Kyrene Gibb said during a special school board meeting on Wednesday. “Both residents and staff rate moral character, leadership, and understanding the community among the most important qualities they hope to see in a new superintendent. In addition, residents prioritize having someone who respects parents and uses evidence-based methods. Staff, on the other hand, prioritize someone who respects different points of view.”
The survey was completed between Jan. 19 and Feb. 2. Of respondents, 602 lived within district boundaries and 997 were district staff. Of those surveyed, 602 were residents within the district and 997 were staff of the Provo City School District. About 90% of survey participants were white with 10% from other minority groups while 43% were male compared to 57% female.
“I am not totally up (to date) on what our city demographics are but it seemed to not quite align with our different cultural groups,” said Jennifer Partridge, Provo City School Board vice president.
According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Provo’s population is 72.5% white, 17.8% Hispanic or latino and 1.1% Black. It is also approximately 50.8% female.
Board members discussed what they want to see from prospective superintendents in the job interview process, including a discussion as to whether they should examine résumés or CVs, which are traditionally more in-depth.
“A CV will have all of their educational experience. I want it all. I want to know, when’s the very first time you were a teacher, to your current job. How many years was that and how many jobs was that,” said Teri McCabe, board member.
Derek Anderson, the district’s business administrator, asked that candidates also include a one-page cover letter to demonstrate “how you have shown that you are a person of good character, that you’re going to place the priorities of teachers collaborate and communicate with the public.”
The Provo City school board will make information presented in the meeting public on the district’s website and using social media, brochures and emails sent to community members.
