Superintendent

An Invitation to Apply for the Position of
Superintendent
Webster Groves, Missouri
The Position
The Community
The Webster Groves School District, Webster Groves,
Missouri, Board of Education, is seeking a highly qualified
superintendent of schools. The Board wishes to have the
successful candidate assume the responsibilities of the position
on July 1, 2016.
The Webster Groves
School
District
community includes
the cities of Webster
Groves, Rock Hill
and
parts
of
Shrewsbury, Warson
Woods and Glendale.
In this community,
schools come first.
People move here for excellent schools, small
town friendliness and strong community spirit.
The area, in suburban St. Louis, is known for
great neighborhoods, with homes ranging from
stately Victorian mansions with wraparound
porches to quaint brick bungalows.
McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C., Executive Recruitment and
Development has been engaged as the consultant in a search for
outstanding candidates. The firm will assist the Board of
Education in identifying and screening the candidates.
The Qualifications
Candidates must have the background, skills, and abilities
essential for excellence in educational leadership. Webster
Groves is a high performing district and was recently recognized
as one of the top districts in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The
district scored an impressive 98.6% on the state Annual
Performance Report. The Board recognizes that selecting a
superintendent is one of the most important decisions it will
make. The Board developed the following desired
characteristics:

Demonstrates integrity, leadership, strong interpersonal
skills, a charismatic personality, confidence and
approachability

Understands and values the culture of the Webster Groves
School District, but will not let traditions stand in the way of
improvement

Is a skillful and effective communicator, exhibiting
exceptional speaking and listening skills

Encourages and embraces the input of all stakeholders and is
eager for and open to constructive feedback (including from
those patrons without children attending Webster Groves
School District)

Celebrates diversity and treats others with respect and
fairness, while fostering an inclusive atmosphere for
students, staff and patrons

Visible to the students, staff and district communities
The Webster Groves School District will offer a competitive
salary and benefits package, commensurate with experience.
The community, which is home to a
broad spectrum of socioeconomic groups, is
known for strong support of the arts,
outstanding recreational opportunities, Opera
Theatre St. Louis, the
Repertory Theatre
of St. Louis, and
higher education as
world headquarters of
Webster University.
The area offers plenty
of recreational opportunities with parks, 160
acres of open green space and three bird/nature
sanctuaries. The Webster Groves Recreation
complex includes a community center and
outdoor pool complex as well as a year-round
ice arena.
The Webster Groves Art Commission has
brought several pieces of art to public spaces
and the community Arts Foundation sponsors
an Art & Air Fair in June. In the fall, the
community hosts the Old Webster Jazz and
Blues Festival, a family-friendly music festival
that showcases St. Louis’ most talented
performers plus food from local establishments.
Downtown Webster
also hosts the Old
Webster Street Dance
in the summer, put on
by local merchants.
The District
District website http://www.webster.k12.mo.us
The Webster Groves School District, one of the oldest
in St. Louis County, serves 4,417 students in Webster
Groves, Rock Hill and parts of Glendale, Shrewsbury
and Warson Woods, Mo. The district, the product of a
diverse, close-knit community, is known for its
excellent faculty and high performing students as well
as a curriculum that offers the best in traditional and
innovative programs. This area has a long tradition of
placing a high value on public education. In fact, in
Webster Groves, the schools came first, predating incorporation of the city. The district
has been cited 11 years in a row by the state of Missouri for “distinction in performance,” the highest accolade a
public school district can receive. Standard & Poor’s School Evaluation Services has named the district “an
academic outperformer.” Student achievement has always ranked above state and national averages and 95 percent
of the class of 2015 enrolled in college. Three district schools have received Gold Stars from the state of Missouri
and the district preschool was honored as the number one early childhood program in the state in 2010-11 by the
Missouri School Boards’ Association.
The district employs 28 administrators, 335
certified teachers and 193 classified staff
members. It has one high school, one middle
school, one sixth grade center, six elementary
schools and one preschool. Webster Groves High
School offers a full-range of extra-curricular clubs
and sports. Assessed valuation is $734 million. The
district operating budget is $56.3 million.
The Board of Education
The Webster Groves School District Board of Education consists of seven community members elected to
three-year terms. The tenure of the board members ranges from one to seven years.
Name
Occupation
Years Served
Mr. David Addison, President
Vice President and Head of
Business Development
4 years
Ms. Amy Clendennan, Vice President
School Attorney/Shareholder, Private Practice
4 years
Mr. Emerson Smith, Member
Credit Union Vice President
7 years
Mrs. Jean Dugan, Member
College Instructor
3 years
Mr. Steve Loher, Member
Chief Financial Officer
5 years
Mr. Joel Oliver, Member
Sr. Development Manager
2 years
Mr. Michael Shipley, Member
Parent
1 year
Mission Statement
The Webster Groves School District community is committed to academic and
personal success for every student.
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 not to contact board members directly. 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:





Closing date for applications: January 4, 2016 (11:30 p.m. central time)
Board of Education selects finalists to interview: January 19, 2016
Finalists interview with the Board of Education: January 25-28, 2016
Selection of new superintendent: February 2016
Start date: July 1, 2016
Webster Groves School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.