Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Marion school district announces two superintendent finalists | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and Weather

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MARION — The Marion Independent School District on Monday announced two finalists for its superintendent position.

Joseph Dyer, a superintendent in Southampton, N.Y., and Michael Houselog, a superintendent in Belvidere, Ill., are the two final candidates, the district said.

Marion this year has been searching for a replacement for current superintendent Sarah Pinion, who will retire June 30. She has led Marion schools since 2009.

Ray and Associates, the firm hired to lead the search, received 46 applications and presented 11 to the Marion school board, said board president David Law. The board chose five to interview via Skype, he said.

Dyer and Houselog will be in Marion Thursday, Law said, for in-person interviews with the board, administrators, students, faculty, support staff and community members.

The board will decide on a candidate Thursday night and hopes to have a verbal commitment from the candidate that night or Friday morning, Law said. He added that he hopes to get a signed contract and announce the next superintendent on Monday or Tuesday.

Dyer has been the superintendent of the Tuckahoe Common School District in Southampton since 2010. He previously was a superintendent in Pennsylvania and earned a doctor of education degree from Virginia Tech University.

Dyer planned to leave the Tuckahoe district last year for a superintendent position in the Susquehanna Valley Central School District, also in New York, according to an October report from the Southampton Press and a release from the Susquehanna district.

The Susquehanna district later hired a different superintendent. Law said the Marion board did not “delve into” that situation in considering Dyer.

“We did not feel it had a great deal of bearing on our situation,” Law said.

“My hope is to serve where educational needs are a professional match with my skills as an educational leader,” said a statement from Dyer. “I highly regard the excellence and community pride that are characteristics of Marion Independent School District and am honored to be considered for the position of superintendent.”

Houselog has been the superintendent of the Belvidere Community Unit School District #100 since 2007. He previously was a superintendent at two other Illinois districts.

Houselog earned a doctor of education degree from Aurora University. He also has earned an education specialist degree from Drake University and a bachelor’s degree from Loras College.

Houselog previously was a candidate for Iowa superintendent positions in the Johnston, Southeast Polk and Dubuque districts, according to media reports and the Southeast Polk district. He has two adult children who live in Iowa, according to a news release from the Marion district.

“The Marion superintendency provides a rare opportunity for me to share my successes I’ve had in Belvidere and other locations,” said a statement from Houselog. “I am highly motivated to relocate my wife and younger children to Marion. Upon researching your school district during the past few weeks, I’ve concluded that my skill set could likely be a great match for the superintendent of schools position for Marion Independent.”

Dyer and Houselog did not return requests for comment Monday afternoon. The Marion district did not make available a schedule of the Thursday interviews.

Marion school district announces two superintendent finalists | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and Weather

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