Superintendent

The Chatham County Board of Education is seeking a superintendent to lead the school system as it continues its pursuit of excellence.  Applications are due by March 8, 2021. 

Chatham County Schools serves approximately 8,900 students from prekindergarten through twelfth grade.  The school system operates 20 schools on 19 campuses, including 6 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 5 K-8 schools, 5 high schools (including 4 traditional high schools and an alternative high school), and an early college.  Chatham County Schools is the largest employer in Chatham County, with approximately 1,200 employees committed to graduating globally competitive and confident students by providing a rigorous and relevant curriculum in a supportive, safe, and nurturing learning environment.  The school system enjoys strong community support and is governed by a 5-member nonpartisan board of education elected to serve staggered 4-year terms.  For more school system information, please visit https://www.chatham.k12.nc.us/, or follow the school system on social media via https://www.facebook.com/ChathamCountySchoolsNC/ and https://twitter.com/ChathamCoSch.      

Chatham County is centrally located in the heart of North Carolina, with easy access to Interstates 40 and 85 and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).  Nestled south and west of the Triangle region (including Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, and Cary) and south of the Triad region (including Greensboro), Chatham County is just hours from the beaches of eastern North Carolina and the mountains of western North Carolina.  The county is home to approximately 71,000 residents, including the towns of Pittsboro (the county seat), Goldston, and Siler City, and several other unincorporated communities.  As one of North Carolina’s largest counties geographically (encompassing more than 707 square miles), Chatham County offers the amenities of urban life while providing the comfort of a suburban setting.  Several major colleges and universities are located within a 50-mile radius of the county, including UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University, and N.C. State University.  Jordan Lake and other surrounding areas also offer a variety of opportunities for recreational and leisure activities, making Chatham County an ideal place to live and work.  Additional area information is available at https://www.chathamnc.org/, https://pittsboronc.gov/, https://www.ccucc.net/, https://www.chathamedc.org/, and https://visitpittsboro.com/.  Local news can be found at https://chathamnewsrecord.com/ and https://chathamjournal.com/.        

Candidates must meet the legal requirements to be licensed as a superintendent in North Carolina or be qualified to serve under the State Board of Education’s alternative guidelines.  Central office and building-level experience are preferred.  A doctorate degree or progress toward a doctorate degree is preferred but not required.  A successful candidate must demonstrate ability and success in (1) visionary educational leadership, including an understanding of equity factors and the influence of equity on educational outcomes; (2) curriculum and instruction; (3) goal-setting and monitoring student achievement; (4) fostering community and intergovernmental partnerships; (5) administration and organization of short-term and long-term strategic planning, budgeting, and personnel and facilities management; (6) communication and effective team-building; (7) ongoing financial management and procuring additional funding; (8) visibility and involvement in community activities; (9) leadership in maintaining safe and orderly school environments; (10) planning and funding of school facilities; and (11) decision-making, delegation, and follow-through.  In addition, a successful candidate will be required to live in Chatham County.

Applicants must complete the board’s required application form, accessible online via the North Carolina School Boards Association’s webpage at www.ncsba.org/super-search/north-carolina-vacancies. Please do not contact, or ask anyone you know to contact, individual board members about your interest in or application for this position.  All inquiries should be directed to Jim O’Rourke, Assistant Legal Counsel for Superintendent Searches, North Carolina School Boards Association, 7208 Falls of Neuse Road, Suite 301, Raleigh, NC 27615.  E-mail: jorourke@ncsba.org.  Phone: (919) 841-4040.  All inquiries will be kept confidential.