Manchester Community Schools - Superintendent Search
Candidate Update May 16th, 2025
Greetings Manchester Community Schools Family,
After a long week of interviews with seven highly qualified Superintendent candidates, the Manchester Community Schools Board of Education has invited the following three finalists to Manchester for stakeholder question and answer sessions and 2nd round interviews with the board:
- Monday, May 19 - Sean Wightman, Middle School Principal, Dowagiac Union Schools
- Tuesday, May 20 - Steven Head, former Superintendent (retired), Onsted CommunitySchools
- Wednesday, May 21 - Stephen Keskes, Executive Director of Grants & AcademicInnovation, Stockbridge Community Schools
Our schedule each day will be as follows:
Finalist Q & A with stakeholders
1:00 - High School student leadership group
2:00 - District administration & leadership team
3:15 - Staff members
4:30 - Parents & community members
Finalist second interview
6:30 - Presentation & Board interview questions
The Board of Education invites Parents and all community members to attend the 4:30 sessions and the 6:30 special meetings / final interviews May 19, 20 and 21. We sincerely appreciate the feedback of all stakeholder groups, which can be provided via feedback forms that will be available at each session.
Looking forward, we will be hosting finalist District Tours and a stakeholder meet and greet onMay 29th, so please save that date as well.
We are looking forward to a productive week of community and board collaboration in these final steps toward selecting our next educational leader.
Candidate Update May 8th
The Manchester Community Schools Board of Education is very pleased to announce that seven candidates have been selected for first round interviews as part of our Superintendent search!
Interviews will be held in the Manchester Jr/Sr High School Media Center. The public is encouraged to attend and there will be an opportunity to fill out a feedback form after each interview, which will be shared with the board.
We will begin each day at 5:00 p.m., with the following interviews starting 10 minutes after the completion of the prior interview.
If you interested in learning more about the candidates click here to Meet the Candidates
Superintendent of Schools
The Board of Education of the Manchester Community School District
is conducting a comprehensive search for its next Superintendent.
The expected start date for the new Superintendent is July 1, 2025.
The Manchester Community School District is in Southwestern Washtenaw County, Michigan, just 20 miles southwest of Ann Arbor. The District serves students in the City of Manchester and parts of the Townships of Bridgewater, Freedom, Manchester, Norvell and Sharon. Nestled in a rural setting along the banks of the River Raisin, Manchester offers beautiful scenic views and a variety of family friendly activities. The District benefits from its proximity to multiple higher education institutions, including the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Siena Heights University, and Adrian College.
The District provides a well-rounded academic experience, including strong core content instruction, art education, physical education, vocal and instrumental music, business and technology courses, career-technical programs, foreign languages, Advanced Placement courses, and a wide range of extracurricular and athletic opportunities. It is a member of the South and West Washtenaw Career Technology Consortium. The District enjoys a high level of involvement and support from parents and citizens in a caring community. It is committed to providing a great education made personal for every student.
The District educates 702 students across Manchester Junior & Senior High School (grades 7-12), Riverside Intermediate School (grades 3-6) and Luther C. Klager Elementary School (grades PK-2). Additionally, the Manchester Early Childhood Center (MECC) offers preschool programs. The District has a dedicated staff of 112 employees, including 47 teachers and eight administrators. It operates on an annual budget of $12.1 million, with a foundation allowance of $9,608 per pupil and a projected fund balance of 7.66% of revenues.
Vision
Manchester Community Schools is committed to developing strong, well-rounded students driven to engage in a successful and rewarding future.
Mission
A caring community developing future-ready students.
Points of Pride
- Respectful and well-mannered students with a high level of school spirit
- Dedicated and caring staff members that are committed to the success and well-being of every student
- Phenomenal facilities that are continually improving thanks to a $64 million bond passed in 2023
- A favorable student to staff ratio that supports differentiation and personalized attention for all students
- Safe and supportive environment that provides a secure, nurturing space for learning and growth
- Every student has access to a wide range of opportunities that support their interests and aspirations
- Small community with a big heart – close, tight-knit, caring, supportive, generous, and deeply engaged with the schools and District
- Rich community resources, including well maintained parks, scenic hiking and biking trails, and a wealth of family-friendly community events
- Close to commuter routes and amenities while retaining a strong sense of community and small-town atmosphere
- Bright future with exciting potential for continued growth and development
Application Procedure
Interested candidates should complete and submit the Michigan Leadership Institute online application found at www.mileader.com or http://applitrack.com/mileader/onlineapp. Completed online applications must be submitted no later than Monday, April 28, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. No “hard copy,” faxed or emailed copies will be accepted. Materials will be treated confidentially through the screening process only upon the written request of the candidate.
All questions regarding the search process should be directed to the search consultant, MLI Regional President John Silveri, at (248) 420-9354 or jsilverimli@gmail.com.
Anticipated Search Timeline
Application Deadline: April 28, 2025, 4:00 p.m.
Selection of Candidates for Interview: May 6, 2025
First Round Interviews: May 12-14, 2025
Selection of Finalists: May 15, 2025
Second Round Interviews: May 19-21, 2025
Finalist District Tours, Meet & Greet: May 29, 2025
Candidate Selection by Board of Education: June 2, 2025
Board Action to Hire New Superintendent: June 16, 2025 (tentative)
Start Date: July 1, 2025 (tentative)
This superintendent search will be conducted with due regard to the Michigan Open Meetings Act (Public Act 267 of 1976) requirement of open meetings for all public body deliberations, decisions and interviews.
The services of the Michigan Leadership Institute have been secured to assist the Manchester Community School District’s Board of Education in the search process and in the screening of candidates. The Board of Education may make exceptions to this profile, posting, process and/or timeline to ensure selection of the best possible candidates as determined solely by the Board. The Board of Education will make all decisions with respect to process, evaluation of candidates, selection of candidates to be interviewed and appointment of the successful candidate. Candidates should not contact members of the Board directly.
Board of Education
Sandra Wiitala, President
Michael Tindall, Vice President
Jennifer Caszatt, Treasurer
Colleen Schoenfeld, Secretary
Rebecca Harvey, Trustee
Sarah Roth, Trustee
Brandon Woods, Trustee
The Manchester Community School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Manchester Community Schools Superintendent Search Survey
Manchester Community School District
Invitation to Participate in Superintendent Search Process
The Board of Education of Manchester Community Schools is conducting the search for its next superintendent, with the assistance of the Michigan Leadership Institute. Engaging members of our school community in this process is a priority for the Board, as your input will play a key role in shaping the selection of our next leader.
We are offering two opportunities for you to contribute to the development of a candidate profile, which will help guide our decision. Your feedback is invaluable in ensuring that we identify a superintendent who will best meet the needs of our students, staff, and community.
Opportunity #1: Complete a Survey
Please take a few minutes to complete a survey and share your thoughts on the qualities we should be looking for in our next superintendent. The survey will be open until Wednesday, March 19 at 4:30 PM.
Survey Link
Opportunity #2: Attend an Interactive Meeting
We invite you to join us for an interactive meeting with MLI Regional President, John Silveri, on Tuesday, March 18, where you will have the opportunity to:
Provide input on the superintendent search.
Learn more about the search process.
Ask questions and engage in conversation.
The meetings will take place at the Manchester Jr./Sr. High School Media Center at the following times:
1:00 PM – District Administration & Leadership Team
2:00 PM – MCS High School Student Leadership Group
3:15 PM – MCS Staff Members
4:30 PM – City/Township Officials
5:45 PM – MCS Parents & Community Members
We greatly appreciate your involvement and support in this search. Your participation will help shape the future of Manchester Community Schools. We look forward to your continued engagement as we move forward with this vital process.
Thank you for your time and feedback!
Sincerely,
Board of Education
Manchester Community Schools
Application Procedure
Interested candidates should complete and submit the Michigan Leadership Institute online application found at www.mileader.com or http://applitrack.com/mileader/onlineapp. Completed online applications must be submitted no later than Monday, April 28, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. No “hard copy,” faxed or emailed copies will be accepted. Materials will be treated confidentially through the screening process only upon the written request of the candidate.
All questions regarding the search process should be directed to the search consultant, MLI Regional President John Silveri, at (248) 420-9354 or jsilverimli@gmail.com.