The School Board of Indian River County officially began the search last week for a superintendent to replace Dr. David Moore, who will be stepping down next spring after a tenure highlighted by an amazing array of accomplishments. In a mere six school years, Moore managed to straighten out the district’s finances and take it from a middling 38th best in the state to fifth best. Under Moore’s leadership, the district has received an A grade from the state for the past three years, and 23 of the district’s 24 traditional public schools earned individual A ratings from the Florida Department of Education last year. Before Moore arrived, fewer than half of the schools earned A or B ratings. And he accomplished all that despite starting as superintendent just as COVID-19 turned the world and public education upside-down. So the district has some very big shoes to fill. Along with the search, the district has also launched a Community Survey to give students, families, employees and community members an opportunity to chime in and share what qualities they would like to see in the district’s next leader. “As a board member and someone who has given 50 years to public education, I hope our new superintendent can continue the energy Dr. Moore brought to our district, along with his passion for public education,” said Dr. Peggy Jones, vice chair of the school board. “Continuing to lead with innovation and community partnerships is crucial.” The School District of Indian River County is the county’s largest employer with more than 1,800 instructional and support employees serving more than 14,000 students. Student achievement now exceeds performance before the pandemic in nearly every assessed area, with graduation outcomes among the highest in Florida. According to a Sept. 29 news release, “the school board seeks a leader who will understand the district’s people and established ways of work, sustain what is producing results, strengthen what can be improved, and guide thoughtful innovation in response to the changing needs of students and the community.” Priorities for the new superintendent include “academic growth and literacy, leadership development, fiscal responsibility, strong community relationships, and clear, transparent communication,” the release says. The six-question Community Survey asks participants to describe their connection to the school district, select what they feel are the district’s strengths and weaknesses, and prioritize three outcomes they’d like the next superintendent to achieve in their first year. It also asks participants to name the qualities and professional experience that are most important in the next superintendent, and to select the direction they believe he or she should take the district. Finally, the survey invites participants to list what they feel is most important for the superintendent to understand about the district and the community, as well as advice they’d like to offer for his or her success. Survey feedback will be provided to board members as they review the candidates’ resumes and plan for the district’s future. Applications will be posted online along with the agenda for the board’s Nov. 17 public workshop, where board members will decide which applicants advance to the interview stage. The finalists will tour the district’s schools on Dec. 13, be publicly interviewed on Dec. 14, as well as individually interviewed by the board, and will present their 90-day plans. The board will select a candidate during a special school board business meeting that night. Next, the board will begin contract negotiations, after which they will execute a final contract. “There is still meaningful work ahead as we build on our progress together,” Moore said in a prepared statement to Vero Beach 32963. “We remain focused on every SDIRC school earning an A and becoming the No. 1 school district in Florida because of what those goals mean for our students. “I am committed to supporting the Board throughout the search for the leader best suited to carry our progress forward. Once that leader is selected, I will work closely with them to share knowledge, strengthen relationships, and ensure a smooth transition so our students, employees, and families continue moving forward together.” The application window for the superintendent position opened at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Candidates will apply online and all required application materials must be submitted electronically no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26. The job webpage lists these requirements: Education: A master’s degree or higher in education from an accredited institution is required. A doctoral degree is preferred. Certification: Florida Educational Leadership certification or an equivalent certification eligible for reciprocity in Florida is required. Leadership Experience: Candidates must have successful experience in teaching and school administration totaling a minimum of ten (10) years or a minimum of five (5) years of district leadership experience with broad responsibility for instructional and/or organizational operations. Experience in a Florida public school district serving 7,500 or more students is preferred. The job application form and the community survey can be found at https://www.indianriverschools.org/o/sdirc/page/superintendent-search. <em>Photos by Joshua Kodis</em> [gallery ids="237017,237018"]