Communication, honest transparency top traits focus groups desired in next Lawrence superintendent

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Focus group members said they’d most like the new permanent Lawrence Public Schools superintendent to be effective in communication and honest with transparency, according to a search firm.

Lawrence school board President Kelly Jones called a special meeting Tuesday to hear an update from the Kansas Association of School Boards. Board members voted 6-0 in November to approve a contract with KASB for an amount not to exceed $11,500 to assist with the ongoing superintendent search.

Britton Hart, assistant executive director of KASB’s leadership services, on Tuesday shared with the board data from 16 focus groups of teachers and staff, principals and assistant principals, parents, and community members. A range of 3 to 24 people participated in each, held last week. There were 135 participants altogether.

Hart on Tuesday also discussed some survey results and other relevant information to the search.

Every school in the district was represented among focus groups. The district’s ad hoc search committee gathered key information from nonadministrative participants in the following four areas:

• “Describe the most important leadership and personal qualities you would like to see in the new superintendent.”

After effective communication and honest transparency, other key characteristics identified included “approachable, visibility, engaged and relationships,” according to data.

Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Lawrence school board President Kelly Jones speaks to her fellow board members during the special meeting. Behind her is Larry Englebrick, deputy superintendent.

School board members on Tuesday discussed characteristics they would add or emphasize. Jones recommended her colleagues think about the meeting as their own focus group.

Board member Shannon Kimball said she values the ability to hold the district accountable to its strategic plan and expected outcomes. Board member Anne Costello said an emphasis on embracing diversity is important.

Direct outreach to Indigenous communities should be a priority, board member Carole Cadue-Blackwood said.

She requested an additional focus group around them, “considering that we have over 100 tribes in the district,” she said. Hart took note, and although focus groups had diverse turnouts, Jones said additional ones around Native American Student Services as well as Haskell Indian Nations University partners are doable.

Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Lawrence school board member Carole Cadue-Blackwood hands data packets down the board table during a discussion about the permanent superintendent search on Jan. 21, 2025.
• “Describe or list the strengths and the good points of the district the new superintendent will need to understand and support.”

Top strengths focus group participants identified in the district were forward thinking in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in addition to dedicated and innovative staff working in schools. Pinpointing the district’s assets is meant to help candidates get to know the district and see if they align with values.

The board will review each candidate that comes through, according to Jones.

“And really, if it was a perfect world, you know, we’d have 50 candidates, and we would really be able to really screen this,” Hart said. “So we’re looking at as many as we can. We want to see if it’s gonna be a good fit, if they have any of these experiences, but also, can they lead some of this work? Because this is important to you.”

• “Describe or list the most critical needs that the new superintendent will need to understand and address.”

The majority of focus group members said addressing a disconnect between the district and school buildings as well as efficacious recruitment and retention are the district’s essential needs.

Cadue-Blackwood added that parent engagement should be a goal, and board members agreed. Costello emphasized decreasing class sizes, too.

• “What single characteristic or quality will separate the best candidate from the other highly qualified candidates who will apply for the superintendent position?”

If there were two remaining candidates, most focus group participants said they would lean toward the one who showed they were in it for the long haul and could offer clear, consistent communication throughout. Notes included in the data said the new superintendent “must be able to tell the story.”

Board member Bob Byers said he values “action-minded” leaders, and board member Yolanda Franklin said the new superintendent should be rooted in humility.

“We have some outspoken people in this community, and they do not mind telling you how they feel,” Franklin said. “And so we need someone that can humbly take that corrective criticism, and you know, still at the same time make the best decision for our students.”

Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times Deputy Superintendent Larry Englebrick, board President Kelly Jones, and board members Bob Byers, Shannon Kimball, Carole Cadue-Blackwood, Anne Costello and Yolanda Franklin hear an update from the Kansas Association of School Boards about the district’s permanent superintendent search.

Survey results and more

Approximately 800 people responded to questions in an online KASB-led survey that closed Friday.

Around 550 of those respondents left comments in a space at the end, many criticizing the district and asking for change.

Costello said candidates should be required to read the raw survey data, to which Jones agreed and said will be the case.

“I think it gives a very accurate reflection of what people are feeling about the district,” Costello said.

Board members voted on Aug. 12 to hire Interim Superintendent Jeanice Swift to fill the position vacated by former Superintendent Anthony Lewis. She is contracted to serve in her position through the 2024-25 school year. The board has invited her to apply for the position, according to a news release from district spokesperson Julie Boyle.

According to a tentative timeline the board is working with, KASB and the search committee will collaborate through March to find the permanent superintendent, who will begin in August.

Various representatives within the district and board are set to meet with four candidates between Feb. 17 and 20, according to a superintendent search scheduled shared Tuesday.

Here’s a PDF of the survey results:

20250121-Supt-survey-r

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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.

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Communication, honest transparency top traits focus groups desired in next Lawrence superintendent

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