The Board has conducted initial interviews this week with a slate of six candidates recommended by BWP & Associates search consultants.
The candidates are those determined to best fit the leadership profile designed from earlier meetings with the Board, employees, community members and online survey results.
“We received 90 applications for this job. Candidates were from 24 states. We were very impressed with the high quality of the candidates we interviewed this week,” said Board chairman Kent Murray. “We are looking for the right
person who can build on our successes and lead us into the future. We selected three candidates who we believe can accomplish that. Our next step will be determining the best of these three.”
The three finalists include:
- Rocky Killion – Dr. Killion is currently Superintendent of West Lafayette Community School Corporation in West Lafayette, Indiana. Prior to this post he was Assistant Superintendent in St. John, Indiana. He began his educational career as a music teacher and band director and in addition to the above posts has also served as a high school assistant principal and a middle school principal.
- Barry Shepherd – Dr. Shepherd has served most recently as superintendent of Cabarrus County Schools in Concord, North Carolina. Prior to this post, he was Superintendent of Elkin City Schools in Elkin, North Carolina. He began his career as a music teacher, and in addition to the above posts has also served as an assistant principal, elementary principal, Executive Director for Elementary Curriculum, and as an assistant superintendent, all in North Carolina schools.
- Jason Van Heukelum – Dr. Van Heukelum is currently Deputy Superintendent of Cabarrus County Schools in Concord, North Carolina. Prior to this post, he has served as Director of Highlands International School in La Paz, Bolivia and as a middle school principal, a high school principal at two schools, a high school assistant principal, and as a math teacher, all in North Carolina schools.
Resumes and photos of the finalists will be posted on the Berkeley County School District’s website at www.berkeley.k12.sc.us.
Murray said that each finalist will spend one day in the district next week touring schools and the community and interacting with Board members, employees and the public.
The Board has planned receptions Wednesday, April 29; Thursday, April 30; and Friday, May 1, to allow employees, community members and business leaders an opportunity to meet and hear from the three superintendent finalists.
On each of these three days a reception for employees will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., and a reception for community members and business leaders will follow from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
One of the three finalists will be present at the receptions each day.
Receptions are open to the public and will be in the District Office Board room at 229 E. Main Street in Moncks Corner. Following these events, the Board will conduct a second extensive interview in executive session with the candidate present that day.
“We really hope that employees and members of the community will drop-in and greet each candidate. We know it is asking a lot for people to come out three days in a row, but the Board wants to have sufficient time individually with each candidate. We also want employees and members of the public to have an opportunity to meet our finalists,” said Murray.
The school board hopes to make a decision on who will be the next superintendent by early May, but Murray cautions that the Board will take whatever time is needed to complete the process.
“This is the most important decision that a school board makes so we will take whatever time it takes to get it right,” said Murray. “We have appreciated the support and interest from the community and look forward to announcing the next leader for our school district very soon.”
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