Corvallis Superintendent Search 2011 - Oregon School Boards ...

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Corvallis
School District
Corvallis, Oregon

The Community
Located in the heart of the Willamette Valley, 90 miles
south of Portland, Corvallis is a vibrant, family-oriented
community of approximately 55,000 people. The home of
Oregon State University, it maintains a small-town feel while
offering the diversity, culture and intellectual opportunities of
a much larger city without the crowds, congestion and crime.
Art galleries, concerts, theatrical productions, a thriving
Farmers’ Market and annual events such as the Red, White
and Blues Festival, da Vinci Days and the Corvallis Fall
Festival satisfy a wide variety of entertainment interests.
Salem (Oregon’s capital) is just 45 miles to the north and
Eugene (Oregon’s second largest city) is 45 miles south.
Corvallis has more than 2,000 acres of parks, trails and
open space and the city is within an hour’s drive of Pacific
Ocean beaches and the Cascade Mountains which offer a
multitude of recreational activities.
Corvallis is a community that places a top priority on
educating its children.
The District
The Corvallis School District is known for the breadth
of educational experiences it provides at every grade level.
Students are challenged and encouraged to prepare to make a
difference in the world once they graduate. Corvallis students
regularly outperform state averages on student assessments and
frequently receive awards in state and national competitions
for the quality of their fine arts performances, science fair
projects, math skills, robotic demonstrations and athletic
accomplishments.
Teaching and learning the core subjects of reading, math,
science and social studies are the district’s primary focus. A
new literacy curriculum was introduced in 2007-2008 and
literacy coaches at each elementary school support reading
instruction. A mentoring program pairs adult volunteers from
the local business community with sixth-graders who need
improvement in reading. The district also recently adopted a
new, more rigorous K-5 math curriculum. The district has one
K-8 school using the Core Knowledge curriculum.
Corvallis students also study musical, visual and
performing arts, and they engage in service learning projects
throughout their school career that connect them with the
greater community and apply their “book learning” to real
world situations and needs.
www.csd509j.net
Two of the district’s elementary schools offer successful
dual-immersion programs, and additional support for Englishlanguage
learners is also available at the middle and high
school levels. World languages including Spanish, German
and French are an increasingly important and popular section
of classes at the high school level.
Corvallis offers a variety of career and technical education
programs and has strong partnerships with nearby Linn-
Benton Community College, Oregon State University and
local businesses. Beginning in sixth grade, all students
participate in career-related activities to help them discover
their personal strengths, interests and goals for their future.
In high school, they can choose from a host of vocational
education courses including woodworking, drafting, culinary
arts, construction, auto repair, theater arts and more. The
Future Laborers Program, the first of its kind in the state,
provides hands-on training for high school students with
professionals in such trades as construction, plumbing,
electrical work, masonry, welding, computer drafting, the
weatherization industry and much more.
The district’s two high schools were both named among the
nation’s top high schools by U.S. News & World Report and
Newsweek magazines in 2009-2010.
Still, there is work to be done to close the achievement
gap and to make sure all students are on track to graduate
with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful
beyond high school. The 2011-2012 school year will see the
implementation of a new class schedule at both high schools
that will provide more time for student interventions.
Other district-wide initiatives include efforts to practice and
teach the concept of sustainability to assure that current and
future generations of students will enjoy a healthy environment.
Because Corvallis is a highly educated community – the
percentage of residents with a graduate or professional degree
is much higher than the state average – parents are highly
involved in the education of their children and most are eager
to support the district with their time, energy and finances. In
2006, the community approved a five-year local option levy
to support many of the programs described above, and this
November, voters renewed the levy through 2016-2017.
Much of the credit for Corvallis’ distinctions goes to an
exceptional staff, which on average has 13.5 years of teaching
experience. Two-thirds have a master’s degree or higher,
and 98 percent of the district’s classes are taught by highlyqualified
teachers, according to No Child Left Behind criteria.
Corvallis School District is the proud employer of the 2010-
2011 Oregon Teacher of the Year.

Community Vision for Education
In 2007, the Corvallis School Board adopted the
Community Vision for Education. Over 1,300 people
participated in a six-month, community-wide visioning
process to determine what the quality and character of
Corvallis public schools should be. The resulting document
guides the district’s decision-making as it makes every
effort to fulfill its mission:
To provide all students with a relevant and challenging
education that prepares them for future success as
engaged citizens and contributing members of our world
community.
Three primary themes emerged:
A Quality Education – Corvallis schools should provide a
comprehensive, aligned curriculum that is rigorous and
includes academic, self-management, social, career and
life skills taught by a highly qualified and well-trained
staff.
Community Schools – Corvallis schools should foster a
welcoming culture that is inviting to students, parents
and the community, and they should provide all students
with access to quality educational programs.
Preparation for the Future – Corvallis schools should
produce students that have the knowledge, skills and
experiences necessary for future success in an everchanging
world and a 21st century global community.
In addition, 17 recommendations were identified
relating to educational programs, structure and support
systems, and program focus. To read the entire document,
go to the district Web site at www.csd509j.net and click on
the title bar near the bottom of the page.
Quick Facts
Schools 14
Elementary Schools 7
K-8 Schools 1
Middle Schools 2
High Schools 2
Alternative Programs (HS) 1
Charter Schools (K-5) 1
Student Population (9/30/10) 6,537
Caucasian 72%
Hispanic 13%
Asian/Pacific Islander 10%
American Indian/Alaskan Native 2%
African-American 3%
Free and reduced meals 35%
Employees 780
Certified 371
Classified 359
Administrative & Non-Represented 50
The Qualifications
LEADERSHIP QUALITIES
• Provides confident leadership; demonstrates strong
decision-making skills; shows integrity and involves others
in the decision-making process; able to effectively delegate
responsibility to others
• Demonstrates a proactive leadership style with a focus on
students and learning
• Is creative and visionary
• Is highly visible in the schools and community; actively
participates in school and community activities
• Demonstrates strong decision-making and problem-solving
ability; able to make tough decisions when necessary and
communicate them clearly and firmly
• Builds a culture of openness, respect, high achievement
and high professional standards for all
• Able to successfully develop partnerships with the business
community and local and state agencies
• Is an inspirational leader who is accountable, responsible
and bases decisions on what is best for students
• Is able and understands the need to balance work and
personal life
AN EXPERIENCED ADMINISTRATOR AND
EDUCATOR
• Demonstrates an understanding of the day-to-day
operations of schools and classrooms; successful broadbased
classroom teaching and building administration
experience
• Advocates for and understands the culture of the district
and its priorities
• Possesses a knowledge of and ability to promote effective
educational improvement and instructional practices in all
curricular areas
• Is knowledgeable about Oregon and federal school law,
standards and regulations
• Demonstrates sound planning, fiscal management and
budgeting skills
• Demonstrates an ability to identify, select, develop,
motivate and evaluate high caliber leadership and staff;
demonstrates effective hiring practices

• Is able to build unity and develop positive relationships
with staff, students, board members and the community;
compassionate
• Demonstrates a proactive approach to understanding the
diverse needs of the community and different cultures
EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION SKILLS
• Communicates effectively and openly with the community,
staff, students, and the board of directors
• Is articulate and transparent
• Is approachable, accessible and listens to others with an
open mind; evaluates fairly
• Is able to work with a highly engaged community with
strong positions
• Is able to advocate for the district at the local, state and
federal levels
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL HONESTY
AND INTEGRITY
• Demonstrates a high level of personal and professional
honesty, integrity and ethics
• Establishes high levels of trust
• Desires a long-term involvement with the district; willing
to live in the community
• Possesses a good sense of humor
Timelines
Closing date January 13, 2011
Screening January 20-30, 2011
Interviews February 7-14, 2011
Site visits February 16-25, 2011
Hiring March 14, 2011
Starting date No later than July 1, 2011
Application Process
All applicants must apply online and provide the following:
• A completed online application
• A letter of interest stating why you wish to be employed by
the Corvallis School District
• A current resume
• Three to five current letters of recommendation
• A copy of your Oregon superintendent license or proof of
eligibility for an Oregon superintendent license
• A statement regarding how you meet the qualities and
qualifications listed and your leadership, educational and
management philosophies (one document; 1,000 word
limit)
Apply online at www.osba.org/execjobs. All application
materials must be submitted to OSBA by 5 p.m. on January
13, 2011.
For questions regarding the online application process, contact
Stacy Davis, OSBA executive search assistant, sdavis@osba.org.
For questions regarding the district and position, contact:
Donna Herren, executive search consultant
Corvallis School District Superintendent Search
800-578-6722 | 503-485-4810
www.osba.org | dherren@osba.org
Out-of-state candidates:
To ensure eligibility for an Oregon superintendent’s
license, direct inquiries to: Oregon Teachers Standards and
Practices Commission, 503-378-3586; fax 503-378-4448;
www.tspc.state.or.us.
Corvallis School District provides equal opportunities in employment and does
not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual
orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability in
accordance with state and federal law.
Consistent with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), applicants may request
accommodations needed to participate in the application process by contacting
Donna Herren at 1-800-578-6722.
• Corvallis
Oregon
Oregon School Boards Association
1201 Court St NE, Ste. 400, Salem, OR 97301
P.O. Box 1068, Salem, OR 97308
800-578-6722 | 503-588-2800