The Beaverton Schools Board of Education will interview four finalists for its vacant superintendent position next month.
Board President Adam Zdrojewski announced on Tuesday the names of the four candidates and the dates and times for their interviews, all of which will take place in the Beaverton Jr./Sr. High School Media Center. They are:
Monday, June 3:
1 p.m. - Michael S. Hugan, Former Superintendent of Deckerville Community Schools
2:15 p.m. - Marvin O. Taylor, Current Superintendent/Business Manager of Mio-Ausable Schools
Tuesday, June 4:
1 p.m. - Tracy Speaker-Gerstheimer, Secondary Curriculum Specialist for Midland Public Schools
2:15 p.m. - Jennifer L. Thrush, Middle School Principal for Harrison Community Schools
While the interviews are open to the public, questions to the candidates will be administered by board members only. To help ensure public input is included in the process, the district has established a page at the school website for community members to submit their questions and concerns for the candidates. The board will consider this input as it establishes its list of questions for the candidates. Submissions may be made at beavertonschools.net/questions.
Zdrojewski said the four finalists were determined after receiving more than two dozen applicants in April. A two-member board select subcommittee and Interim Superintendent Tom House vetted all applicants thoroughly and completed reference and qualifications checks to arrive at the recommended four finalists.
“We appreciate all the time and effort our committee and Tom put into getting us to this point,” Zdrojewski said. “We’re confident we’ll have four excellent candidates from which to choose the best person to lead our district. We’re going to listen much more than we speak in these interviews, and once the board arrives at its final choice, we’re going to expect a lot from our new superintendent.”
The board hopes to have the new leader in place by July 1, although it’s understood it may take a bit longer than that.
“The timetable might be tight for the candidate to make July 1,” Zdrojewski said. “And if that’s how it goes, that’s fine. We’ve got an experienced, steady hand at the wheel with Tom in the meantime, and that’s a luxury during this transition. Getting the right person in the job long-term is far more important than meeting that deadline.”