Superintendent - Poquoson City Public Schools

The Poquoson City School Board is seeking a student-centered and community-oriented educational leader to serve as the next Superintendent of Poquoson City Public Schools. The next Superintendent will lead an outstanding school division serving approximately 2,100 students in a community where the schools are central to civic life and to the City’s identity. The new Superintendent’s start date is expected to be in February 2027.

The Superintendent is the division’s chief executive officer, responsible for instructional leadership, operations, human resources, finance, and carrying out the policies and vision the School Board adopts. The Superintendent builds and maintains strong working relationships with the School Board, division level leadership, principals, teachers and support staff, families, the City Manager, City Council, and community organizations. The School Board is seeking a strong, credible, and relational instructional leader who understands what makes Poquoson distinctive. The division has many strengths worth protecting including a close-knit community, long-tenured, skilled, and dedicated staff, strong family participation and support, and an academic reputation the community and board are proud of. Consistent through staff and community surveys, as well as school board interviews, the next Superintendent should learn and understand the division before recommending changes, foster collaboration and act with intention to bring sound judgment about where improvement is needed along with the skill to lead people there.

The School Board has set the remaining qualifications as preferences. The School Board intends to consider every candidate whose record demonstrates readiness and welcomes applicants whose career path differs from the traditional one. Preferred qualifications include:

• Experience as a classroom teacher.
• Experience as a school-level administrator, such as a principal or assistant principal.
• Experience in central office or division-level leadership.
• Experience in a small school division, or a demonstrated understanding of the opportunities and constraints that come with one.
• Prior service as a Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent. The School Board also welcomes candidates whose progression demonstrates readiness to assume the role for the first time.

The successful candidate should bring experience across a broad range of division functions, which may include curriculum and instruction, assessment and accountability, special education, school finance and budgeting, school law and policy, human resources, facilities and capital planning, school safety, community engagement, and School Board relations.

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and leadership capability to serve as Superintendent of Poquoson City Public Schools will be considered.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, & LICENSURE

The School Board seeks an experienced educational leader with a record of progressively responsible leadership and a working understanding of the operations of a Virginia school division.

A master’s degree from an accredited college or university is required. An earned doctorate is preferred.

Candidates must hold, or provide evidence of eligibility for, a Virginia Division Superintendent License, and must appear on or be eligible for the Virginia Board of Education’s list of eligible division superintendents. Candidates are encouraged to review current requirements with the Virginia Department of Education.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Poquoson City Public Schools offers a competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience within a salary range of $195,000 to $235,000 .The Superintendent also receives a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance; participation in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS); a 403(b) or 457(b) deferred compensation plan; group and optional life insurance; Flexible Spending Accounts; an Employee Assistance Program; and paid leave and holidays.
The School Board will negotiate a written employment contract with the successful candidate. Under the Code of Virginia, an initial Superintendent contract runs not less than two nor more than four years, and all Superintendent contract terms expire on June 30.Residency within the City of Poquoson is preferred.

The School Board anticipates appointing the next Superintendent in January 2027. All inquiries and applications will be handled confidentially. Candidates should direct questions to Berkley Group and not to the School Board or division level administration.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

The Superintendent will:

• Serve as chief executive officer of the division, consistently executes School Board policy, and provides the School Board with objective, timely, and complete information to support its decisions.
• Lead instruction across all four schools, with accountability for student achievement, curriculum, assessment, and the quality of teaching in every classroom.
• Develop and administer the division’s operating and capital budgets and maintain responsible stewardship of public funds.
• Work closely with the City Manager and City Council on budget development, the capital improvement program, compensation, and the shared long-term interests of the city and its schools.
• Recruit, develop, evaluate, and retain high-quality teachers, administrators, and support staff, and advocate for competitive compensation and working conditions.
• Ensure that students with disabilities receive the services, staffing, and support their programs require, and that general and special educators are equipped to serve them well.
• Apply policies, procedures, and expectations consistently across all four schools, providing support to and maintaining accountability for building leadership.
• Lead long-range planning for facilities, enrollment growth, and the capital needs of aging buildings and systems.
• Develop, execute, and monitor the division’s strategic plan with the School Board and the community.
• Communicate openly and on a predictable schedule with families, employees, and residents, including the reasoning behind decisions that affect them.
• Maintain safe, secure, welcoming, and well-supported learning environments.
• Represent the division with the Virginia Department of Education, regional partners, and the wider community, and maintain compliance with state and federal requirements.