LCPS board privately interviewing superintendent candidates | Education

John Beatty, Katokuchin, Vice Chairman Harris Mahedavi, Ashburn, Erica R. Ogedegbe, Leesburg, Tiffany L. Polifko, Broad Run, Chairman of the Board Ian Serotokin, Blue Ridge, Brenda L. Sheridan, and Sterling voted yes. Denise Corbo of At-Large and Jeffrey Morse of Dulles, who wished to attend remotely, were absent.

According to Serotkin, 29 people applied between March 29 and the closing of the application process on April 26. In a pre-voting interview, he said Virginia law allows candidates to be interviewed privately to protect their anonymity.

Serotokin said applicants are usually superintendents from other school departments and would be unlikely to apply if the interviews were open. He said the anonymity prevents potential “backlash” in their community for them looking for work elsewhere.

“All executive search firms advising the school board on this matter generally advise against disclosing candidates unless necessary, as it will severely impact the candidate pool of applicants,” he said. there is,” he said. “While the board strives to be as open and transparent as possible, when it comes to hiring superintendents, we want to attract the best and widest possible pool of applicants. Confidentiality of those applicants. “

Serotokin said a new superintendent will be appointed in early June. In December, Acting Superintendent Daniel W. Smith was appointed to replace Scott Alan Ziegler, who was fired and indicted in connection with the 2021 student-on-student sexual assault scandal.