Head of superintendent search confident he can find candidates

Moses

The man who is leading the effort to find a new superintendent for Clovis schools says finding candidates for the job won’t be a problem.

Mike Moses, chief of School Executive Consulting Inc., was in Clovis on Wednesday to brief the school board in a three-hour executive session.

President Mark Lansford said the meeting was long, but productive.

“This will begin to move pretty quickly now,” he said.

Current superintendent Rhonda Seidenwurm announced her resignation earlier this year. It takes effect at the end of the month. Seidenwurm served as superintendent for five years.

Moses said controversy in Clovis hasn’t scared away any prospects.

“There are two things people get emotional about. Their children and their money. And both are in school districts. Controversy occurs in every school district,” Moses said. “In this work, we’ll see issues.”

Since being picked April 15 from among three contenders, Moses said his firm has been actively recruiting people for the position. He said his firm has contacted administrator associations in New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas to spread word about the job.

“We’re still talking and recruiting,” Moses said.

Moses said he hopes to have a list of candidates for the board when he returns to Clovis on June 15. During Wednesday’s session, Moses provided the board with a timeline.

He said the firm is informing possible candidates about the expected growth in the area.

“Clovis has a good name, a good brand. The community has a lot to offer,” he said.

Moses said he will be in Clovis through early afternoon today talking with community members and school staff about their “needs, desires and wishes” for the next superintendent.

Moses was an educator in Texas for more than 30 years. He said his experience has allowed him to amass a trusted network of professionals.

Moses said his firm, as an outside group, is a resource to the district because they can relate to outside candidates.

“In this industry, it’s sometimes easier to have a person who is outside the district to represent the board to others outside the district. Sometimes candidates want to talk about prospects, strengths and weaknesses and just general information with someone who is also outside the district,” Moses said.