Superintendent

ORGANIZATION:

District Five Schools of Spartanburg County, South Carolina (the District; District Five) has a rich heritage of excellence in every aspect of educational and extra-curricular endeavors. It is one of the top performing school districts in the southeastern US in academic achievements, as well as programs in the arts, leadership, choice magnet programs, technology, innovation, and sports.

District Five, located on the western edge of Spartanburg County, serves students from several municipalities as well as those from unincorporated areas. The cities, towns, and municipalities of Duncan, Lyman, Reidville, Moore, Startex, Wellford, and Greer are all found within the District’s attendance boundaries. Located midway between the metropolitan areas of Greenville and Spartanburg, District Five has experienced steady and dynamic growth in the past twenty years. Once a rural area comprised of numerous textile plants and agriculture concerns, the area is now home to a vibrant international manufacturing and industrial community. The last two decades have seen an influx of highly respected domestic and international companies. Since 2009, approximately 10,000 jobs have been added to the countywide workforce. District Five enjoys partnerships with many of these companies and works in conjunction with these employers to develop and educate a workforce that is ready to meet the challenges of the workplace.

Therefore, once a small, country school district, District Five has changed dramatically. With the exception of two years, the enrollment of District Five Schools has increased annually since 2000. Now serving approximately 8,500 students of diverse backgrounds and economic means in kindergarten through grade 12, District Five enrollment has grown by approximately 43% since 2000. While growth has slowed slightly, with the addition of the jobs mentioned above, and expected continuation of growth in and around the district, the population is expected to increase dramatically over the next ten years.

The growth in the District has brought about the need for additional space to provide high quality instruction to students. In 2010, the District opened its new Fine Arts Center, with rehearsal space for the band, choral and orchestra programs at Byrnes High School, as well as a 1,000‐seat performance hall with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems. The facility is available for use by school performing groups as well as those in the community. In August 2016, District Five completed construction of a $2.8‐million‐dollar, 14,000 square foot addition at Lyman Elementary School. In 2017, District Five completed construction of a $26‐million‐dollar, 96,951 square foot classroom addition at James F. Byrnes High School. Construction is currently underway on a new $28 million Reidville Elementary School.

District Five is composed of 12 schools: six elementary schools (grades K-4); two intermediate schools (grades 5-6); two middle schools (grades 7-8); a freshman academy (grade 9); and a high school (grades 10-12). Along with two other Spartanburg County school districts, District Five also offers students a career curriculum through the R.D. Anderson Applied Technology Center, one of 49 career centers in South Carolina which provides high school students with the skills necessary to prepare them for a successful career in an ever-changing work place. RDA is one of thirteen “Multi-District” Centers in the state. In addition, District Five has a partnership with the Middle Tyger Community Center, an organization that provides comprehensive services to the community including early childhood education, family counseling services, youth development programs, a food pantry, a free health clinic, and adult education programs including GED, ESOL, and Literacy classes.

The District’s current student population is comprised of approximately 65% Caucasian students, 19% African‐American students, and 16% of other ethnicities. The growth of other ethnicities has increased more than 5% since 2010, a reflection of the continued growth of international manufacturing companies in the area. Of the 86 school districts in South Carolina, District Five ranks 21st in the percentage of enrollment classified as minorities. Approximately 52% of students meet the revised South Carolina poverty index, the lowest poverty index of the Spartanburg County districts. The poverty index ranks as the tenth lowest among the 86 school districts in South Carolina. Three schools in the District are classified as federal Title I Schools. Following the trend of the international business climate in the District, an international culture has developed in the schools as well. District Five is currently serving over 6% of students, speaking 17 different languages, in the English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program.

The staff employed by District Five is a group of caring, qualified, and dedicated adults who strive to meet the needs of this diverse student population. There are 696 certified teachers, serving in 12 schools. Of these teachers, 137 hold a Bachelor’s degree, 60 have added 18 hours to their Bachelors, 241 have earned a Master’s degree, 163 have earned the Masters plus 30 hours, and 11 hold a Doctorate.

District Five is dedicated to a focus on educational excellence. The District aims to meet the SC Profile of the graduate in pursuit of the District’s mission: “The Mission of Spartanburg District Five Schools is to provide every student quality educational experiences in a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment.” Each day, the district strives to be the best it can be, living out its motto: “Every child…every day,” and knowing education is one of the greatest investments for the community’s children.

For more information about District Five Schools of Spartanburg County, please visit District Five’s website, https://www.spart5.net.

REPORTS/RELATIONSHIPS:

District Five Schools of Spartanburg County is governed by a nine-member, non-partisan elected Board of Trustees (the Board). Board members are elected to four-year terms. Elections are held every other year (odd numbered calendar years) with four seats being contested during one election cycle and five being contested during the following cycle. The Board is responsible for providing vision and leadership to ensure students the best available educational opportunities to improve their quality of life by establishing policies and monitoring the operations of the District.

The Superintendent is appointed by, and reports directly to, the Board. The Superintendent is ultimately responsible for leading and managing, either directly or indirectly, the following functions/positions: Assistant Superintendent – Administration and Operations; Assistant Superintendent – Curriculum and Instruction; Director of Finance; Chief Human Resources Officer; Director of Public Relations; Chief Technology Officer; Executive Assistant; and all Principals. The Superintendent is ultimately responsible for leading the District’s 1,185 employees system-wide.

BASIC FUNCTIONS:

The primary responsibility of the District Five Superintendent, per Board policy, is to serve in a triple capacity as:

• The executive officer of the school district;
• The leader and accountable officer for all personnel of the system;
• The liaison between those personnel and the board.

As the Chief Executive Officer for the District, the Superintendent is responsible for working with the Board to establish the strategic direction for the District, and then assume responsibility for the implementation of that strategy, accomplishment of stated objectives, and the overall day-to-day operations of the District. The Superintendent is also the liaison between the District’s employees and the Board and is the leader accountable for all personnel within the system. The Superintendent is charged to inspire, lead, guide, and direct the administrative, instructional, and operational support services teams in setting and achieving the set standards of excellence so that every child is provided a quality educational experiences in a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment. All these responsibilities, accountabilities, and activities must be effectively executed and/or accomplished in an educational and community environment characterized by a strong sense of family/community, strong support, and a desire to continue with current excellence and success.

Specific duties will include, but not necessarily be limited to:

• Visit the schools as often as practical to observe the work of the staff in the school setting.
• Administer the continued development, refinement, and maintenance of a positive, innovative educational program designed to meet the needs of all of the
• Recommend policies, guidelines, and procedures for adoption by the Board and implement and execute the policies, guidelines, and procedures adopted by the Board.
• Develop a plan/culture that cultivates and supports all the human capital needs of the District. Nominate, appoint, and/or assign, and define the duties, of all district personnel (subject to approval of the Board as necessary). Create a working environment and culture that allows the District to recruit, retain, and motivate a high-quality team of educators who are passionate about educating children. Set clear, student-related objectives for administrators, and evaluate school leaders based on their attainment of objectives that enable academic progress in the schools. Seek opportunities for professional growth and ensure appropriate professional and personal development for all District personnel.
• Make recommendations to the Board with respect to school accommodations/ facilities, boundaries for school attendance, and student assignment to the various schools.
• Prepare the annual budget for Board approval. Provide strategic and operational business and financial leadership to the District in order for the District to operate in a financially responsible manner consistent with all state rules and regulations.
• Conduct continuous study of the development and needs of the schools and keep the Board and public informed.
• Develop and promote opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships between the District and a diverse group of community stakeholders.
• Represent the schools before the public and maintain, through collaborative leadership, a program of communications and public relations both inside and outside the schools that keeps the public informed of the activities, needs, and successes of the schools. Seek appropriate opportunities to promote the District in the community and the region at large.
• Adhere to local, state, and federal laws.
• Serve as the primary liaison with state and local government officials and representatives regarding legislation and appropriations affecting the District.
• Coordinate with other six school districts in Spartanburg County in areas of shared responsibility and resources.
• Continually investigate, support, and implement innovative and appropriate uses of technology.
• Perform such other duties as the Board may direct.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Passionate, energetic, enthusiastic; exhibits a love for educating young people and enthusiasm for the educational process.
• Visionary leader who exhibits innovative thinking with the necessary skills and abilities to help the District pursue its mission.
• Superior management and leadership skills; ability to revise/develop/maintain good management policies.
• Humility; willingness to listen, understand, and place the needs of the District ahead of self-interests.
• Superior human relations skills: visible and approachable; creates an atmosphere of acceptance; builds consensus and loyalties across a diverse group of stakeholders; community-oriented; transparent in interactions with the community; politically astute and savvy; ability to understand the political dynamics of the community.
• Effective written, oral, and social media communication skills; ability to communicate to internal and external stakeholders; good listener.
• Exhibits high personal expectations and has high expectations for others.
• Ability to recruit, develop, and retain highly qualified employees and lead others to do the same.
• Strong planning and concept development skills; strategic, creative, innovative thinker yet organized with the ability to prioritize appropriately.
• Appropriate financial acumen and financial management skills.
• Good decision-making skills; understanding of data and data analysis in good decision making; courage to make tough/necessary decisions.
• Knowledgeable in the use of technology as an educational and administrative tool.
• Seeks personal and professional growth opportunities.
• Appropriate educational credentials. Terminal degree preferred.
• Established residency in District Five to enable connections to the community as a whole.

COMPENSATION:

Compensation will be commensurate with experience including a competitive base salary, benefits, and relocation assistance.

Discrimination of all persons is prohibited with regard to employment and any other program or activity on the basis of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, color, immigrant status, English speaking status, or disabling condition in District Five Schools of Spartanburg County as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended.