An Invitation to Apply for the Position of

Superintendent

Piper USD 203

Kansas City, Kansas

The Position The Piper USD 203, Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Education, is seeking a highly qualified and fully certified Superintendent. The Board wishes to have the successful candidate assume the responsibilities of the position July 1, 2020. McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C., Executive Recruitment and Development has been engaged as the consultant in a search for outstanding candidates. They will assist the Board of Education in identifying and screening the candidates.

The Qualifications A proven successful district office leadership experience in a variety of educational areas The candidate must have the background, skills, and abilities essential for excellence in educational leadership. The board recognizes that selecting a superintendent is one of the most important decisions it will make. The Board developed the following desired characteristics. Exhibits characteristics of a student-centered servant leader who collaboratively leads the District

with passion, high energy, and persistence in the education of all students as the number one priority. An enthusiastic and dynamic leader dedicated and committed to the inclusion and development of

each student regardless of gender, race, religion, national ancestry, sexual orientation, or special education needs.

Is a progressive, innovative and visionary educator with a demonstrated open-minded ability to think beyond today and prepare the district for tomorrow.

Proven ability to lead by example in the development of teams comprised of diverse internal/external groups such as the Board of Education, Superintendent, and Administrative team while providing support of these teams to lead the district forward.

Possesses strong personal and professional qualities including: honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, collaboration, communication skills, and a true passion for education.

The Community Piper USD 203 is a fast-growing district located in the northwest corner of Wyandotte County, Kansas, one of the counties comprising the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. The district’s 31.5 square miles encompass more than 4,000 occupied households, housing approximately 11,000 residents. Piper USD 203 is the center of the community and benefits tremendously from the support of patrons and alumni, including the Piper Educational Foundation. The Piper School District’s close proximity to I-435, I-70, and Kansas Highway 7, makes for quick access to employers and amenities throughout the metropolitan area. The Village West retail and entertainment development, which includes such large attractions as Nebraska Furniture Mart, Cabela’s and Children’s Mercy Park, home of the Sporting KC MLS franchise, are located partially within the district’s boundaries. The district is home to many employees of the county’s

largest employers including Cerner, Dairy Farmers of America, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, and the Board of Public Utilities.

Board of Education The Board of Education consists of seven members, elected to serve four-year terms. The incumbency of the members ranges from 2 to 17 years.

Name Occupation Years Served Mr. Jeb Vader Insurance 4 Mrs. Ashley Biondi Teacher 4 Mrs. Lisa Sullivan Business Office Manager 12 Mr. Neal Palmer V.P. of JE Dunn 17 Mrs. Desiree Fergus Board of Public Utilities 4 Mrs. Theresa Fisette Accountant 2 Mr. Johnny Bakarich Owner of Baron Contracting 2

The District District Website: www.piperschools.com

Piper USD 203 is home to more than 2,500 students in grades Pre-K through 12. The district’s assessed valuation is $210,704,103 and the total budget including all funds for 2019-2020 is $38,267,141. Piper USD 203 employs more than 300 people, including 12 building and district administrators, 170 certified staff members, and 132 classified employees. Students are currently divided among 5 school buildings:

Piper Early Childhood Center (3 and 4-year-old Pre-K): 115 students

Piper Elementary School (K-3): 685 students Piper Elementary East (3-5): 522 students Piper Middle School (6-8): 591 students Piper High School (9-12): 656 students

Construction is underway for a new, state-of-the-art intermediate elementary school which will house all students in third, fourth, and fifth grades. The facility is set to open its doors to students in the fall of 2020. The district is one of three member districts in the Wyandotte County Special Education Cooperative, joined by Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools USD 500 and Bonner Springs USD 204. This partnerships allows the district to provide a full spectrum of Special Education services for the students of Piper. Piper has a long-standing tradition of academic excellence. The Piper High School class of 2018’s ACT composite average of 24.1 was one of the highest in the state and well above the state average of 21.6 and the national average of 20.9. Piper High School ranked 20th in the state in the 2019 US News and World Report’s Best High Schools. As part of achieving the district’s vision of “Building the future one child at a time,” Piper is proud to offer a robust STEM program to students grades K-12 to prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow. In addition to success in the classroom, Piper students have an outstanding track record in athletics and extra-curricular activities and competes in the Frontier League with eight other area high schools. Piper High School is one of the five largest 4A schools in the state of Kansas as classified by the Kansas

State High School Activities Association. Students have access to a wide variety of athletics and activities including band, baseball, basketball, bowling, cheerleading, cross country, dance, debate, drama, football, forensics, golf, journalism, powerlifting, soccer, softball, swimming, track and field, vocal music, volleyball, and wrestling, among many others.

APPLICATION

available at

www.macnjake.com

11725 Arbor Street, Suite 220 Omaha, Nebraska 68144

Phone: (888) 375-4814 Fax: (402) 991-7168 E-mail: mail@macnjake.com

An application for superintendent should include: A letter setting forth personal qualifications, experiences and reasons for interest in the position. A current résumé. A completed application form. Reference letters, certificates and licenses, and academic transcripts from colleges/universities indicating degree(s).

Candidates are asked not to directly contact board members. Any effort to do so may eliminate them from consideration. Names of applicants will be held in strict confidence whenever possible; however, McPherson & Jacobson complies with individual states’ Freedom of Information laws. In the final process, the school board may visit the district where the candidate is employed, but will not proceed without the knowledge and consent of the candidate.

Selection Time Line Closing date for applications: November 26, 2019 (11:30 p.m. central time) Board of Education selects finalists to interview: Thursday, December 12, 2019 Interviews with the Board of Education: December 17, 18, & 19, 2019 Selection of new Superintendent: December 23, 2019 Start date: July 1, 2020

Piper USD 203 is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The district does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or disability and, when needed, will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees. Anyone requesting a reasonable accommodation in the application or recruitment process please contact McPherson & Jacobson at the address/phone/email above.

Mission Statement The mission of Piper USD 203 is to provide each student with quality

instruction, learning opportunities, and a safe educational environment which inspires academic success, personal excellence,

and responsible citizenship.

Building the Future One Child at a Time

Vision Statement