LA PORTE CITY, IA — The Union Community School District Board of Education met with representatives from Grundmeyer Leader Services on Monday, April 4 to review application materials on all 18 superintendent applicants. From that meeting, the Board has named three finalists in its search for the district’s next superintendent.
The finalists are David Hill, John Howard, and Mark Taylor. Each possesses significant experience recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers and staff, promoting caring learning environments for students, and building school and community relations.
As superintendent of the North Tama Community School District, Hill has improved the district’s financial position, implemented numerous programs to increase student achievement, and maintained a climate of culture, respect, and cooperation. He has most recently led the district through a comprehensive facility study and the development of a long-term facility master plan. Before that, Hill was a PK-5 Principal in Union CSD. He began his career in education as an ag teacher in the Benton CSD.
Howard is the current 7th-12th grade principal in the Independence CSD. His leadership has encompassed all aspects of school administration, including student achievement, discipline, curriculum and instruction, budgeting, strategic planning, facility management, human resource management, organizational change, and parent relations. He has also done substantive work in providing mental health counseling within the school day. Howard previously served as a principal and curriculum director at Saint Edmond Catholic Schools in Fort Dodge.
Taylor currently serves as the North Hill Elementary School principal in Burlington, Iowa. He is also the Title I director and autism committee chair, as well as a participant on District SIAC, teacher leadership, and professional development committees for multiple elementary buildings. Taylor is credited by many as a relationship builder through his student-centered approach to instruction and timely and meaningful professional development. He also spent 10 years in vocal and instrumental music education.
The Board of Education has been working with Grundmeyer Leader Services to conduct the superintendent search. Formal interviews are scheduled on-campus on Monday, April 11. The day will consist of a Board interview, interview with two mixed interview teams comprised of teachers, support staff, students, parents, and community members, and a community/district tour. Following the last interview on April 11, the Board will review input data from all interviewers; they will tentatively select the next Union CSD Superintendent. Announcement of the next superintendent will be tentatively be made public on Wednesday or Thursday.
The new superintendent will begin serving the Union Community School District effective July 1, 2022.
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