Nicolet's Next Superintendent Should Be...

The firm tasked with hunting for new candidates to fill the shoes of retiring Nicolet Superintendent Rick Monroe said Tuesday it will begin the process of screening candidates.

Illinois-based consulting firm, Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates, met with community members and district staff earlier this morning to explore what they would like to see in the person who replaces Monroe. 

Part of that screening, said consultant David Smith, will be matching candidates against the list of 10 characteristics which emerged from the focus groups, interviews with 103 employees and community members, and 206 responses to an online survey. 

"There is somewhat of a level of anxiety in the community of who's going to take over, what kind of person is the individual going to be," School Board President Marilyn Franklin said. 

But officials hope the work being done to identify what kind of a leader the district's stakeholders want will make the integration process more seamless.

Franklin said one line in the summary was particularly reassuring: "A unilateral change agent is not needed, but rather you are looking for someone who is going to further improve the present excellent high school," she said. "I think that would probably be a key statement."

School Board member Joseph Kasle said the hiring of a consultant helps the district more concisely pin-point what the next superintendent should look like.

"Without the community input, without the staff input, and our own input, it would become far more difficult to nail down, and get the right person," he said. 

According to an executive summary on the firm's website, the characteristics are:

• Active and visible in community
• Communication skills
• Consensus builder
• High expectations 
• Integrity and trustworthiness
• Knowledgeable about instruction, learning, curriculum, and finance
• Listener who seeks input before making decisions
• Proven leadership
• Relationship builder
• Student centered

Smith said the position has been advertised locally and regionally and the firm is accepting applications. The firm will report back to Nicolet school officials on April 10, with details on the search.