Superintendent of Schools

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Category: Superintendent/Administration
Date Posted: 12/15/2021
Location: The Forum
Date of Availability: 07/01/2022
Date Closing: 01/22/2022

Application Deadline: January 22, 2022 Position Start Date: July 1, 2022 NOTE: Applicants will be required to complete this short online application, as well as provide a resume, letter of intent addressing the qualifications as outlined in this profile, and three professional references.  

Superintendent of Schools  

As we live our mission “to create world-class learners and citizens of character in a safe, inclusive learning community,” the Dubuque Community School District seeks a mission-driven, collaborative leader committed to student-focused decision making to be its next superintendent.   After a decade of success in action-oriented strategic planning and with the support of a dedicated Board of Education, the district remains focused on ensuring “Success for All” through four focus areas:  

- Student Achievement and Development
- Community Engagement
- Effective Resource Management
- Employee Excellence 

To achieve success in these areas, our next superintendent will excel in the following:

Student-centered: In alignment with the district’s belief that our existence revolves around students, the next superintendent will foster a decision-making process that is centered around putting students first and foremost. This corresponds with our ultimate goal of preparing students with a world-class learning experience that supports both their academic achievement as well as development of the skills most needed to be successful now and into the future.

Team-focused: The next superintendent will have strong administrative experience leading through a collaborative, team-based approach that thrives on ensuring that the best ideas always prevail. The ideal candidate will be a strong listener, open to diverse perspectives and will collaborate to build consensus toward achieving the best outcomes. The new superintendent will embrace working together with a strong, experienced leadership team that is always focused on outcomes as opposed to hierarchy.

Collaborative and collective: The next superintendent will embrace the power of partnership to engage all stakeholders to achieve collective success. The ideal candidate will be committed, both in philosophy and in action, to building, sustaining and enhancing relationships that benefit students. This includes strong engagement with the district’s internal stakeholders (including students and parents, staff at all levels and the district’s seven bargaining units) and as well as externally (including civic, business and higher education partners)

Committed to diversity, equity and inclusion: As a public school district, we proudly serve every student who walks through our doors. The next superintendent will be committed to breaking down barriers and lifting up each student to their full potential, while possessing a fundamental belief that all students can learn and be successful.

Champion of public education: The next superintendent will be a steadfast champion of public education, and will actively engage in community and legislative advocacy to support it. The ideal candidate will be skilled at navigating complex social and political issues in a way that moves toward common ground and away from divisiveness.

Core Competencies   In addition to the attributes above, the next superintendent will possess these core competencies:

- Unwavering integrity, trustworthiness and honesty
- Ability to see strategic, visionary goals and a roadmap to achievement
- Well-developed communication skills that foster transparent, strategic communication with all stakeholders
- Curiosity and ambition to be a continual learner
- Exceptional adaptability
- An appetite for strategic, intentional risk in developing innovative programming  

Licensure Requirement

 Applicants must be eligible to obtain Iowa Board of Educational Examiners license endorsement 190 (Evaluator) and endorsement 171 (Superintendent).  

WHO WE ARE  

As one of the largest PreK-12 school districts in Iowa, the Dubuque Community School District proudly serves approximately 10,500 students across 18 schools and an alternative learning campus.  

The district is a founding member of the Urban Education Network (UEN), which represents and advocates for the unique needs of the state’s largest, most diverse school districts.  

Serving our students is an amazing team of approximately 2,000 staff members who are the backbone of our district’s service to the community. We are one of our region’s largest employers, we strive to be an employer of choice and we take pride in our tremendously strong relationships with our seven bargaining units.  

WHERE WE ARE   Dubuque might be Iowa’s oldest city, but we are young at heart! Our vibrant community combines a backdrop of historic architecture with a re-energized downtown and burgeoning riverfront that showcases the majesty of the Mississippi River. Named a “Best Small City to Raise a Family,” Dubuque is a community with a strong history of supporting education.  

Learn more about Dubuque at www.dbqschools.org/superintendent-search.