The Genesee Valley Central School District is seeking a new Superintendent of Schools. The Board of Education has engaged School Leadership, LLC to assist in the search and it is our pleasure to bring this leadership opportunity to your attention for your own interest or for the purpose of suggestions of possible candidates.
The District has approximately 3,600 residents and spans 117 square miles of rural terrain in the southwest corridor of New York State. It serves approximately 600 students in grades Pre-Kindergarten - 12. The District was formed in 1996 through the merger of the Belmont and Angelica Central School Districts. More than 160 faculty, support staff, and administrators make up the team of dedicated employees who serve the students and families of the school community.
The New York State Education Department identifies Genesee Valley as a High Need/Resource Capacity Rural District. To meet the wide-ranging needs of its community, the District operates as a full-service community school connecting students, families, and community members with resources in order to provide an environment where each student is given the best opportunity to thrive educationally and personally. As a full-service community school, the District works to blend services beyond education to meet the needs of the rural community. Through this initiative, the District has formed excellent partnerships with outside providers and agencies.
The District operates with an approximately $20,000,000 budget to support innovative programming to leverage students’ capacity to think, compute, create, and lead through the 21st Century. The Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 facility and surrounding campus were constructed in 2002 and have undergone multiple improvements through community-approved capital projects. The resulting complex highlights an Innovation Learning Center enriched with current technology and resources to accelerate and deepen each student’s learning. Teachers strive to accommodate personalized learning environments using collaborative, data-based strategies and tools such as online learning platforms, computers, mobile devices, and learning algorithms.
Recently, as part of the Board’s community outreach through stakeholder group meetings and an online survey parents, students, staff, and members of the community cited strengths of the District. Some of those strengths included:
- a family- and community-oriented atmosphere;
- academic programs for all children;
- personnel who are committed to ensuring the best possible outcomes for all students; and
- beautiful facilities, with more upgrades planned.
Also, as part of its community outreach the Board collected input regarding the educational challenges ahead for the District and the professional experiences and personal characteristics the next Superintendent should possess. After careful review of that information, the Board has determined that the ideal candidate will be:
- A successful teacher and school administrator, with K - 12 experiences, and the ability to work and lead as a member of a team, and one who has a record of professional stability and maintaining a positive school and community culture.
- A proven school leader with outstanding communication skills (listening, speaking, writing) who has demonstrated the ability to work and lead as a member of a team and who understands the challenges facing rural school districts.
- A school administrator with an understanding of the finance (including budgeting and capital project implementation) and human resources (including collective bargaining and staff supervision and evaluation) functions who can advise, oversee, and/or conduct related activities.
- An instructional leader, who can analyze the current instructional program and student achievement and work with a supportive and well-respected staff charting a reasonable and thoughtful approach through short- and long-range planning.
- An energetic educator of the utmost integrity and character who will become an integral part of the school community, be regularly visible and will lead in an atmosphere of mutual respect and accountability. Residency within a reasonable proximity of the District is highly preferred.
The Board of Education will offer a regionally competitive salary and benefits package, commensurate with experience. Candidates must possess or be eligible for New York State certification as a School District Administrator (SDA) or School District Leader (SDL).
Online applications will be accepted until April 11, 2025 at www.leadschools.us. Applicants are advised to click on “Current Searches”, then the link to www.applitrack.com/leadschools/onlineapp. In addition to completing the basic application, applicants are requested to upload a current resume and a cover letter, the latter which describes how their educational background and professional experiences meet the position specifications included in this letter. The anticipated start date is no later than September 1, 2025, or sooner as practical.
FOR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP, LLC
Allan R. Berry, Associate
Howard S. Smith, Ed.D., Associate
