An Invitation to Apply for the Position of
Superintendent
Cherokee Community
School District
Cherokee, Iowa
The Position
The Cherokee Iowa Community Schools 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, 2015.
McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C., Executive Recruitment and Development has been engaged as the
consultant in a search for outstanding candidates. Their consultants will assist the school board in
identifying and screening the candidates.
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:
 The superintendent will be very capable in verbal and written communication.
 The superintendent will possess financial and budgeting expertise.
 The superintendent will be forward thinking and visionary as it pertains to addressing issues of
technology, facility needs, educational trends and curriculum.
 The superintendent will be familiar with contemporary leadership styles and apply them in
order to promote collaboration with all stakeholders.
 The superintendent will support and promote staff development and positive morale.
The Community
Cherokee, Iowa has a population of 5,200 and is located in Northwest Iowa
between the Iowa Great Lakes and Sioux City, Iowa.
Major employers of the area include Hy-Vee Distribution Center, Cherokee
Regional Medical Center and Cherokee Mental Health Institute.
Recreation activities in Cherokee include Sanford Museum and Planetarium,
Depot, Cherokee Golf and Country Club, Bacon Aquatic Center, CRMC Wellness Center, and Cherokee
County Parks which have over 1,000 acres of land devoted to parks that are managed by the Cherokee
Conservation Board.
Community activities and festivals include the Cherokee
Symphony, Cherokee Community Theater, Cherokee Jazz
Festival and the Cherokee PRCA Rodeo.
Colleges or universities nearby include Western Iowa
Tech-Cherokee Campus and Buena Vista University about
20 miles away in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Mission Statement
“With community involvement, we will empower learners to
become contributing members in our changing world.”
The District
District website http://www.ccsd.k12.ia.us/
The Cherokee Community School District is
located in Northwest Iowa. It enrolls
approximately 960 students in four schools:
Washington High School is classified as 2-A
and serves students in grades 9-12; Cherokee
Middle School, built in 2001, serves students in
grades 5-8; Roosevelt Elementary enrolls
students in kindergarten through grade 4; and
the Early Childhood Learning Center serves
students who are ages 3 and 4.
One of the goals developed by the district for the 2014-2015 school year was to "Implement a
successful 1-to-1 technology initiative to enhance student learning, instruction, and
achievement.” The Roosevelt Elementary staff have Interactive Smart Boards in each
classroom that are used to support learning activities. They also have 30 mini I-pads that are
used in various grade levels on a rotating basis. Teachers have available a number of
applications for the I-pads, including Accelerated Reading, Extramath, and Mackinvia, and it
is anticipated that more will be added.
The Board of Education
The Cherokee Community School District Board of Education consists of five community
members elected to four-year terms. The tenure of the board members ranges from two to
fourteen years.
Name
Occupation
Years Served
Dr. Jack Creel, President
DVM
8 years
Mr. Jim Haselhoff, Vice President
Haselhoff Construction
2 years
Ms. Laura Dawson, Member
CPA
14 years
Ms. Deb Johnson, Member
RN
10 years
Mr. Calvin Carver, Member
Executive Director
2 years
APPLICATION & SELECTION
PROCEDURE
available at www.macnjake.com
7905 L St., Suite 310, Omaha, NE 68127
Phone: (402) 991-7031 Fax: (402) 991-7168
E-mail: [email protected] www.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 to not 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 Timeline
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Closing date for applications: April 15, 2015
Board of Education selects finalists to interview: April 29, 2015
Interviews with the Board of Education: May 1, 4, 5, 6 , 2015
Selection of new Superintendent: May 8, 2015
Start date: July 1, 2015
Cherokee Community School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.