Gravette School District

Position Description

Job Title: Superintendent of Gravette School District

Reports To:  Board of Education

Evaluated By: Board of Education

FLSA Status: Exempt

 

DISTRICT PROFILE

Gravette School District is located in the northwest corner of Arkansas serving 2,132 students in the prekindergarten through 12th grades. The Misson of the Gravette School District is to ensure success for ALL students. Working collaboratively with a deeply invested community, ALL students will: Thrive in a student-centered environment where they know we care. Learn and grow in positive, safe and supportive schools. Be empowered and equipped to achieve excellence in all things. Be celebrated. We are Lion Pride! We lead the way in everything we pursue.

 

JOB SUMMARY

As the administrative agent of the Board, the Superintendent shall be responsible for the overall operation of the school system. The Superintendent shall be responsible for providing leadership in the planning, coordinating, organizing, staffing, reporting and budgeting of the District. The Superintendent may delegate responsibility for the operation of various segments of the school system, but he/she shall be responsible to the Board for the results.

 

CANDIDATE PROFILE

We are seeking an experienced instructional leader who has demonstrated the ability to improve student outcomes and reduce the achievement gap. Successful candidates will bring a passion for ensuring that ALL students have access to the opportunities that will allow them to graduate from high school fully prepared for college, work, and citizenship. Successful candidates will also demonstrate the courage to address sensitive issues related to student achievement and filter decision making through the lens of what is best for students.

 

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

1. Relationship with the Board

        The Superintendent shall:

• Attend all meetings of the Board except when his/her appointment, performance or salary is being discussed.
• Provide required legal notices for all meetings.
• Prepare Board meeting agendas, in conjunction with Board President and subsequent responses relative to Board action, including reports as necessary for the Board.
• Serve as an ex-officio member of all regular and special committees of the Board.
• Implement the policies of the Board.
• Communicate to the Board the District’s mission as related to programs, budgets, personnel and operation, and communicate planning needs.
• See that each newly elected Board member has access to copies of all Board policies and provide new board orientation activities in accordance with Board policy.
• Keep the Board informed of important legislative matters, both state and federal, which might affect the District.
• Respond to Board needs and concerns in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Decide all administrative matters concerning the District, in which no specific provision has been made in the law or the Board's policies. He/she shall report at the next regular Board meeting those decisions which he/she believes should be authorized by appropriate policies enacted or established by the Board.
• Implement and evaluate short and long range plans, programs and organization of the District.

1. Administration and Management Operations

         The Superintendent shall: 

• Establish priorities and recommend District goals, objectives and expectations, and serve as a member of the strategic planning process.
• Investigate the immediate and long-range needs of, and recommend to the Board, provision for school facilities in the school system.
• Make recommendations for changes or additions to Board policies, and develop procedures for staff participation in policy making.
• Establish attendance boundaries within the District, subject to confirmation by the Board.
• Coordinate the development of the annual school budget for review and approval by the Board. A copy of the budget shall be provided to each Board member for his/her consideration and action.
• Be held responsible for all transportation concerns.
• Schedule and conduct administrative staff meetings and serve as chair of those meetings.
• Have the authority to close school when, in his/her judgment, inclement weather or other unforeseen situations make transportation and safety of students and staff hazardous and to schedule makeup days.
• Appoint another administrator to be in charge when he/she is absent from the District.
• Direct the implementation of the state's standards and mandates that apply to operation of the District.
• Comply with the laws, rules and policies related to fiscal management.

1. Educational Program Activities

         The Superintendent shall:

• Provide educational leadership within the District.
• Develop with professional staff, an education program coordinated throughout the District, which will help each student of the District develop his/her individual abilities to the fullest extent possible.
• Develop and establish procedures for continuous curriculum review in the District, and assure that the Board-adopted curriculum is used by all staff.
• Help build an instructional climate conducive to positive learning; one which results in warmth and acceptance, pride in achievement and a feeling of self-worth.
• Consider the wellbeing of students as the fundamental value of decision making in the District.
• Visit each school as often in his/her judgment as is practical, giving careful attention to matters of organization, instruction and discipline.

1. Personnel Management

        The Superintendent shall:

• Provide leadership and professional counsel to the Board in overall staff management relations.
• Establish job descriptions and set standards of performance.
• Assure effective programs for staff recruitment, orientation and professional development in the District.
• Recommend to the Board for employment all personnel required for teaching and supervision services that may be necessary for the operation of the schools.
• Interview, select (or recommend for selection) and discipline staff in accordance with Board policies and provisions of the current employee agreements. The Superintendent may hire and terminate employment of persons not under contract.
• Participate on Board negotiating teams as required and coordinate all negotiation activities in accordance with Board expectations.
• Direct the improvement of staff performance and assure the evaluation of all personnel as per Board policy and administrative procedures.
• Require of any employee such written reports as he/she may consider being in the best interests of the schools.
• Have the authority to make temporary appointments to fill vacancies caused by sickness or necessary absence of teachers or other school employees.
• Be responsible for keeping employees informed of all changes in Board policy which might affect them.
• Act as the liaison between the Board and all school employees. In the event of conflict of judgment or interest, he/she will, upon his/her own initiative, or the written request of an employee, place requests for a hearing on the agenda of the Board at a regular or special meeting.

1. Professional Growth Activities

        The Superintendent shall:

• Be encouraged to attend workshops, meetings, conventions, and the like, and belong to appropriate professional organizations. He/she shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in his/her duties and attendance at meetings.
• Formulate a professional development plan to improve professional performance.
• Engage in, encourage and oversee an active, positive public relations and communications program within the schools and the community at large.
• Represent the District with various news media personnel.
• Encourage community participation in the schools, committees and program development.

1. Other

         The Superintendent shall:

1. Carry out any and all additional responsibilities as shall be assigned by the Board.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Possesses or is eligible for Arkansas certification as a Superintendent and has completed all educational and experience requirements before commencing responsibilities in the position.
• Has prior, successful administrative experience in public elementary or secondary schools.
• Demonstrates skills in both oral and written communications.
• Provides evidence of strong interpersonal relationship skills necessary to successfully interact with the many publics involved in the operation of the schools including; Board members, Administrators, Teachers, Citizens, Parents and others.
• Is able to articulate a philosophy of education and administration that is deemed compatible with the nature of the community and the desires of the School Board.
• Possesses an educational experience background that is sufficiently broad enough so as to include some level of experience in areas including but not limited to; personnel administration, fiscal administration, curriculum and instruction, public relations and communications, contract administration, interaction with public boards, and other areas as deemed appropriate by the Board.
• Reflects evidence of understanding of the demands of the position and the importance of loyalty and duty to the Board with respect to carrying out the Board's directives in a positive and efficient manner.