Taylor Independent School District plans to hire a new superintendent before Thanksgiving break.
The district’s board of trustees unanimously voted to approve JG Consulting’s timeline for the superintendent hiring process during its Aug. 21 meeting. The district hired JG Consulting, the same searching firm used to hire former superintendent Devin Padavil, during a special meeting earlier this month.
James Guerra, president and CEO of the firm, said that Taylor ISD will receive the JG Consulting team’s full attention since this is the only current search they are running in the state.
“We’re excited for you,” Guerra said to the school board in a timeline presentation. “I don’t think you’re going to have a shortage. I think the challenge will be, and this is a good problem to have, is you’re going to have to pick one. I have a feeling you’re going to like quite a few.”
Currently, the district is in the stakeholders meeting stage of the searching process. The firm is meeting with community members and staff during this stage, including an open town hall meeting Aug. 24.
The firm will produce their findings in the form of a report and draft a leadership profile, which it will present to trustees Sept. 5.
Applications will officially open Sept. 6 under the adopted timeline. Any hopeful superintendent prospect can apply until Oct.6, when the application process closes.
After the firm has some time to look over applications, it will present candidates to trustees in a closed session Oct. 10. Trustees will have access to each applicant’s submissions on iPads, but the firm will present a handful to specifically recommend that best fit the leadership profile.
Additionally, there’s an opportunity to watch brief application videos of any of the candidates.
“It’s an opportunity for them to showcase what they’re doing currently, but at a high level,” Guerra said. “It’s not to replace the inperson interview. It’s really just a CliffsNotes, abbreviated overview of who they are.”
Then trustees will narrow down the candidates for a first round of interviews held Oct. 17 and Oct. 18.
To maintain confidentiality, a final round of interviews will be held soon afterwards Oct. 23 and Oct. 24.
The final round of interviews will include “breaking bread” with the candidate and their significant other at either breakfast or dinner. Then, the firm will potentially give the significant other a tour of facilities while trustees hold an extensive interview with the candidate.
Trustees plan to name a lone finalist after the Oct. 24 dinner.
Under this timeline, the district’s next superintendent would officially be hired Nov. 14.
