Board interviews superintendent candidates

Open session meetings, March 10, 11, 12

St. Johns Public Schools Board of Education members will begin first-round interviews with seven candidates for the position of superintendent during a series of open meetings next week. Board members voted to extend the interview offers to the candidates after reviewing applications at its March 2 meeting.
 
Dr. Jann Jencka of Michigan Leadership Institute (MLI) facilitated at the selection meeting, and will coordinate the interview sessions during the evenings of March 10, 11 and 12. All interviews will be held in the board room at the Wilson Center.
 
The board selected the following candidates from among 17 applications received by MLI and presented by Dr. Jencka.
 
Joseph Candela, Superintendent, Akron-Fairgrove Schools
Richard Dunham, Superintendent, Laingsburg Community Schools
Richard Heinrich, Assistant Superintendent, Bangor Township Schools
Dr. Kenneth Ladoceur, Superintendent, Gilpin County School District, Black Hawk, Colorado
Dr. Linda Olson, Director of Instruction & Personnel, Van Buren Public Schools
Michael Smajda, Elementary Principal, Escanaba Area Public Schools
John Strycker, Superintendent, New Lothrop Area Public Schools
 
Three candidates will be interviewed on March 10; 6, 7:45 and 9:30 p.m. Two candidates will be interviewed on each of the subsequent nights, March 11 and 12; 6 and 7:45 p.m. All interviews will be held in open session; public is invited to attend.
 
Following the conclusion of the March 12 meeting, the board is expected to select three finalists who will take part in a second round of interviews scheduled for March 16 and 17. Site visitations may follow during the week of March 24. The board is expected to make a decision on a superintendent at a special meeting on March 30.