Superintendent Mervin B. Daugherty announced he will retire on July 31, 2024.

The School Board hired Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates to conduct a national search for the next superintendent. The search firm will help the School Board determine the characteristics being sought in a superintendent, then identify a pool of highly qualified candidates to be interviewed. The process to determine the characteristics of the next superintendent will include input from school system employees, school families and the community through in-person and virtual meetings as well as an online survey.

The superintendent search process has four steps:

1. Engagement: Feedback will be solicited from the School Board, employees of Chesterfield County Public Schools, families, students and the community through interviews, community meetings, focus groups online surveys (available in English and Spanish). Information from these interactions will help the School Board develop a leadership profile and selection criteria that match the priorities of the community and that meet the unique needs of the school division.

   • An online survey will be open during the engagement period to any stakeholder who would like to provide feedback on the superintendent search.

   • Six in-person community meetings will be held (one in each magisterial district and one for Spanish-speaking community members).

   • Multiple virtual meetings will be held for different stakeholder groups.

2. Recruitment: The search firm will leverage a national network of associates and incorporate advertising strategies and proactive recruiting to identify and recruit exceptionally talented leaders who would be a good fit for Chesterfield County Public Schools.

3. Selection: The School Board will be provided with a slate of candidates using the leadership profile established by the School Board using information gathered in the engagement phase. HYA Associates will work to bring the right candidates for consideration by the School Board, facilitate interviews and the appointment process.

4. Transition: HYA Associates will assist the School Board and new superintendent to assure a successful transition.

Multiple ways to provide feedback
All stakeholders – including staff, families, students, community members – anyone with an interest in the success of Chesterfield County Public Schools – were asked to provide feedback on the search for a new superintendent.

Survey: An online survey was administered to help the School Board learn more about what stakeholders believe are the desired characteristics of the next superintendent.

In-person community meeting: Six in-person events were held by HYA Associates to gather input. The following meetings were open to community members and school employees:

• 6:30 p.m. May 21 at Thomas Dale High (3626 W. Hundred Road)

• 6:30 p.m. May 22 at Meadowbrook High (4901 Cogbill Road)

• 6:30 p.m. May 28 at Manchester High (12601 Bailey Bridge Road)

• For Spanish speakers: 6:30 p.m. May 28 at Manchester Middle (7401 Hull Street Road)

• 6:30 p.m. May 29 at Clover Hill High (13301 Kelly Green Lane)

• 6:30 p.m. May 29 at Midlothian Middle (13501 Midlothian Turnpike)

Virtual community meeting: One virtual meeting open to the entire community was held by HYA Associates to gather input:

• Virtual community forum: 6:30 p.m. May 30 

Multiple virtual meetings were scheduled with internal and external stakeholders.

The feedback provided by community members and staff members provided valuable insight for the School Board. Below are the reports provided by HYA based on information and data collected from the focus groups and survey.

• Leadership Profile Report

• HYA Survey Report

• Desired Characteristics Report

 Applications will be received through July 20, 2024.

• The full job posting is available here.

May 6 - Contract awarded to HYA Associates
May 14 - Initial planning meeting with School Board
May 16-June 3 - Online survey is open
May 21-May 30 - Employee and community meetings
Week of June 10 - Leadership profile is provided to School Board
July 20 - Application deadline
Week of July 29 - Slate of candidates presented to School Board
Aug. 10 - Initial candidate interviews with School Board and selection of semifinalists
Aug. 17 - Semifinalist candidate interviews and selection of finalist
Week of Aug. 26 - Appointment of new superintendent