Superintendent, Pueblo School District No. 60

Location

Pueblo, CO | United States

Job description

The Pueblo School District No. 60 Board of Education is seeking a superintendent beginning on July 1, 2024, with a base salary range expected to be $225,000 to $300,000 (based on experience); other benefits to be negotiated. The Board of Education expects applicants to be accomplished and energized leaders who understand the unique role and value of the community and school district and who are prepared to engage, collaborate, and inspire teachers, staff, students, parents, alumni and the community to achieve a shared vision of a great school district with great schools.

Pueblo School District No. 60 is located in the heart of a beautiful and dynamic city, Pueblo, Colorado, also known as Home of Heroes (4 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients).  Pueblo is a diverse community located 100 miles south of Denver with a less than two-hour drive to the Metro Denver area, and sits on the western edge of the Great Plains and at the junction of the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek near the Wet Mountains of the majestic Sangre de Cristo range.  Pueblo is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Pueblo County, CO. The city population is approximately 115,000 making Pueblo the ninth most populous city in Colorado.

Pueblo is a historically and culturally rich community enjoying a temperate year-round climate with four distinct mild seasons, crisp air and over 300 days of sunshine per year. It boasts of a superior infrastructure including rail, airport, Interstate 25, clean and plentiful water, as well as technological adequacy. The region is heavily agricultural, with large- and small-scale farming and ranching, and a strong mix of service, retail, manufacturing, and technology industries.

Pueblo attracts outdoor enthusiasts to a full slate of summer and winter recreational activities, encompassing water sports at Lake Pueblo, biking, running or walking along Pueblo’s beautiful river trail system, which connects the Historic Arkansas River Project (HARP) and the Union Avenue Historic Commercial District, golfing, playing tennis, hiking or skiing in the nearby mountains. Local and national artists perform at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center, the Colorado State Fair Events Center, and Pueblo Memorial Hall. The Pueblo Convention Center and hotel accommodations offer visitors and the community a venue for large gatherings.

El Pueblo History Museum, the Pueblo City and County library system and the ability to utilize the libraries and facilities at Colorado State University-Pueblo (a regional comprehensive university) and Pueblo Community College (a two-year comprehensive community college) empower diverse learners with the availability of high quality resources.

Pueblo School District 60's central mission is "to provide a high-quality education that assures each student the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to lead a life of purpose and impact." District 60 serves 15,000 students from the close-knit, historic community of Pueblo, which currently includes nearly 115,000 residents. There are 30 schools: 17 elementary schools, four middle schools, four high schools, an alternative/online high school, two International Baccalaureate magnet schools, and two charter schools. The district has 2338 employees. 

District 60’s student body comprises 75% minority students and 80% that qualify for free or reduced lunch programs.  The District is dedicated to providing an education that not only endows students with the tools to succeed but educates "the whole child" by fostering strong character-development traits in all students. The vision in District 60 to become a high-performing school district inspires community confidence.

In Pueblo District No. 60, we believe that:

• The success of every student is our most important commitment.
• Collaboration and engagement with our community, parents, staff, and students are essential to our success.
• We must act with integrity, celebrate diversity, and promote equity.
• Each individual must be treated with dignity and respect.
• The social and emotional well-being of our students is as important as their academic needs.
• It is our responsibility to provide a safe, positive, and supportive environment for our students and staff.
• Our community heritage, traditions, and history should inform our response to future student and district needs.

District’s Point of Pride / Accomplishments:

• Comprehensive Ed Programs, including IB, STEM, CTE; a comprehensive network of curriculums and programs that encompasses the spectrum of learning. 
• Curriculum/robust assessment across all content areas. With the adoption and implementation of several innovative curriculum programs and assessment parameters, the District has ensured that scholars are learning with an eye toward the future, with the assessment providing an accurate gauge on the effectiveness of this learning. 
• Significant improvement in academic achievement. The District, through relentless determination, has successfully broken any correlation between race, poverty and achievement, as witnessed by the fact that some of its highest-poverty schools are now 'Performance' schools, and others have moved off the accountability clock. The majority of the District's schools are in the state's top-tier "Performance" framework, while others continue to make progress. 
• $218M Bond/Five new schools. Reflecting a renewed bond of trust and confidence with the community, the District was successful in seeing a $218 million bond passed, which led to the building of five new schools and the renovation of others in need of critical repairs. 
• Support for a full range of safety, health, emotional & social needs. The District has, through an increase of access to mental health professionals, social works and other supports, expanded the needed resources to ensure that our scholars' needs are met on every level. Professional development, as well as Family Academy Nights, have likewise provided the tools necessary to address the safety, health, and wellbeing of our scholars. Through a district-wide SEL Curriculum, our scholars as well as families receive the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals. 
• Successful implementation of a five-year strategic plan. Serving as a guiding foundation for both the present and the future, the District's Five-Year Strategic Plan saw a host of successes realized, leading to a three-year extension, which will continue to bolster the District's mission and guiding purpose. 
• Positive engagement with the community through an effective communication strategy. Through a comprehensive and consistent communication plan that employs the use of social media, photography, press releases, and strong partnerships with local media, the District has been able to expand its scope locally, statewide and even nationally. 

D60 Successes Video:  

D60 Strategic Plan Report (Celebrations and Successes):   Strategic Plan Annual Report: 2021-22

D60 Strategic Plan (current):   Strategic Plan Report-Fall 2023-Spring 2026

Visit the District Website for more information:   Pueblo School District No. 60 Website

Qualifications:

• Doctorate preferred. (The Board may, at its sole discretion, consider exceptional candidates with strong leadership backgrounds and experiences who do not possess a doctorate.)
• Colorado Superintendent/Administrator License preferred. (The Board may, at its sole discretion, consider exceptional candidates with strong leadership backgrounds and experiences who do not possess a Colorado Superintendent/Administrative License.)
• Central office and/or building administrative experience preferred.
• Previous superintendent experience preferred.
• K-12 Teaching experience preferred.

Characteristics:

• Proven Executive: Multi-year success in high-level educational leadership roles within comparably complex organizations. Demonstrated commitment, entrepreneurial skills, and ability to foster the academic growth of students, ensuring quality and competitiveness, as well as a contribution to economic development.
• Strategic Visionary: Knows the importance of strategic plans aligned with district goals and community values.
• Collaborative Leader: Builds trust, positive relationships, and fosters open communication with the Board of Education, students, staff, parents, and the community, leading to successful outcomes and operational efficiencies for the school district.
• Equity Champion: Possesses a deep understanding of systemic inequities and implements impactful strategies to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.  A proven record of successful equity and inclusion initiatives that serve students and community, aiding in the creation of a dynamic, robust economic engine within the community.
• Exceptional Communicator: Connects effectively with diverse audiences, actively listens, inspiring and motivating stakeholders to embrace change and strive for excellence.
• Fiscal Acumen: Demonstrated success in navigating within shifting financial landscapes, aligning school district budgets and strategic priorities, and fundraising.
• Culturally Aware: Commitment to and understanding the unique community heritage, traditions, history, and capitalizing on this community strength for district improvement.
• Reputation: Honesty, integrity, authenticity, and transparency as a basis for strengthening public trust in the school district and engaging the entire community in an atmosphere of collegiality, collaboration,  and respect.
• Relationship Builder: Ability to foster, grow and sustain strong internal and external relationships for the advancement of the community, school district and its students; including but not limited to a commitment to advocacy, support, and transparency with parents related to curriculum adoptions, school safety, and policy.

PLEASE INCLUDE IN YOUR FRONTLINE APPLICATION:

• Cover letter (stating interest and unique qualifications for the position) - be sure to save the name of the district in the document title
• Full resume/vitae
• Three current letters of recommendation
• Copy of Superintendent license (regardless of state) or evidence of eligibility for Superintendent license
• Contact information of three additional references different than the reference letters

Search Timeline - All Application Materials Due By: March 27, 2024

Week of April 1, 2024:  Slate of candidates presented to the Board

Week of April 8, 2024:  Board first-round interviews

Week of April 15 - 2024:  Finalists Day in the District

Week of April 22, 2024:  Board conducts final interviews

By Mid May, 2024:  Superintendent’s hiring approved and announced

July 1, 2024:  Superintendent contract formally begins

Pueblo No. 60  posting on the HYA Website:  

For any questions regarding the Pueblo School District No. 60 Superintendent search contact either HYA associate,  do not contact Pueblo 60 School Board members:

Mike Richie, Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates     Email:  [email protected]

Brian Ewert, Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates     Email: [email protected]

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