Its down to the final four.
After a prolonged process, Montezuma-Cortez School District Re-1 has narrowed its search for superintendent from 18 candidates to four.
According to a written statement issued by Re-1 Monday, the district used certain criteria created by focus groups composed of staff and community members to select the best possible candidates for the job. The finalists will be interviewed by committee on April 14 with the hopes of naming the top candidate on April 17.
Finalists include:
Alex Carter, who has served as Chief Academic Officer for TVtextbook since 2011. The company designs digital content for students kindergarten through 12th grade. He was also Tellurides high school principal from 2007 to 2011. He holds a Masters of Education from the University of Virginia. He will earn his doctorate of education from Walden University in July.
Victor Fiquerao is the current Superintendent of Student Achievement for the Durango School District 9-R. He has been with the district since 2001 as assistant principal and principal, and as a director in special education. He has a Master of Arts from Adams State College and a Bachelor of Arts from Colorado Mesa University.
Dr. Jody Mimmack is the current Chief Academic Officer of Instruction in Grand Junction, where she has also served as assistant principal and principal in the high school and middle school in that district. She has a doctorate in Education Leadership from the University of Denver, and earned both Masters of Arts and Bachelors of Arts in Special Education from the University of Northern Colorado.
Dr. M. Neil Terhune has been the superintendent of Carbon County School District in Rawlings, Wyo. since 2007. He has also held positions as principal and superintendent in Harem Public Schools in Wyoming since 1999. Terhune has also served in the United States Army and Marine Corps from 1976 to 1999, retiring as a major. He holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Montana State University and a Master of Science from Missouri State University.
The new superintendent will be charged with finding a principal for the high school.
Mary Rubadeau was hired as the interim superintendent in late January.
According to Secretary to the Superintendent Linda Diffendaffer, applications are available for those who wish to participate in the interview process for a permanent superintendent for Re-1. Applicants will be notified by March 29. A training session will be held on April 10 and interviews will be conducted on April 14.
Principal search reopened
After one delayed interview process in February, and rescheduled interviews and reception for the community to meet and greet candidates in March, the job is still open.
By March 12 three final candidates had been selected for the final interviews. M-CHS Ed Rice, Tom Meyer of Iowa and David Gerber of Arizona all interviewed for the principal position.
An offer was made to Meyer, but he had a change of heart and he declined the offer.
According to Diffendaffer, Meyer and his wife ultimately decided not to relocate to the Cortez area.
Other than Meyer, the interviewing committee of Re-1 staff and one tribal liaison decided to re-open the search.
Were going to re-open it until its filled, Diffendaffer said. It will be a responsibility for the new superintendent.
Reach Brandon Mathis at brandonm@cortezjournal.com