INFORMATIONAL BROCHURE

HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

OKOBOJI COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Okoboji Community School District, one of northwest Iowa’s premier school districts, is seeking an exemplary educational leader to serve as high school principal starting on July 1, 2010.

The five-member Board of Education is seeking candidates with high integrity, outstanding leadership qualities, and a strong focus on student achievement. Successful completion of an accredited principal preparation program required.

Completed applications must be received no later than Friday, Feb 26, 2010.

The board will be offering a competitive salary package to the person selected as the new high school principal.

This vacancy is due to the retirement of Mike Schmitz.  Mr. Schmitz has successfully served the district as high school principal for the past six years.

The Okoboji High School has an enrollment of 285 students in grades 9-12. The school has a professional teaching staff of 25 and non-certified staff of 7. The average high school educator is a 14-year veteran with 24% holding Master’s Degrees.

New construction and renovations at the high school are visible evidence of the community’s support and pride in Okoboji’s educational system and demonstrates the commitment by the community for the school district.

The high school’s academic program targets two major areas:

1. High expectations to acquire fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to be a productive citizen and successful in post-secondary learning opportunities.
2. Exposure to a wide variety of learning experiences to create awareness about personal interests and aptitudes.

The high school’s strong educational program focuses on meeting the needs of  all learners. Special education, at-risk, and talented and gifted programs are well in place. Music, art, and physical education are essential aspects at the high school level. Okoboji High School also has the Avenues of Opportunity Alternative Learning Center. This innovative program works with students for credit recovery, job placements and reaching graduation criteria.

A fully functional media center and mobile wireless computer labs assist teachers in delivering the curriculum in a variety of effective ways. Technology is a key component in the learning of new materials and pointing towards the future. The current curriculum is aligned with standards, benchmarks, the Iowa Core Curriculum and has achievement targets already in place.

The Okoboji Community School District encompasses the cities of Milford, Arnolds Park, Okoboji, and Wahpeton. The high school and the Alternative Program are located in Milford.

Please see their web site for more detailed information about the District http://www.okoboji.k12.ia.us

The Iowa Great Lakes are located in northwest Iowa. The main attractions of the Okoboji area are the glacier-carved lakes. This beautiful chain of lakes extends from the Minnesota border southwest several miles and covers about fifteen thousand acres. The Iowa Great Lakes include Iowa’s largest natural lake, Spirit Lake and five interconnected lakes: West Okoboji, East Okoboji, Upper Gar, Lower Gar and Minnewashta. Spring-fed West Lake Okoboji is a beautiful shade of blue and 134' deep. It is the centerpiece of the five chain lakes, and the surrounding communities provide the backdrop for Okoboji’s year around playground.
 
There are endless activities for your leisure time. Active water sports include boating, fishing, swimming, sailing, water-skiing, para-sailing, canoeing, kayaking and maneuvering on personal watercraft. For those more inclined to enjoy land-based summer activities, try the area’s famous amusement park, water park, seven golf courses, go-cart race tracks, mini-golf, tennis and over 14.5 miles of well-surfaced trails which can be used for biking, jogging, rollerblading, walking and just plain enjoying nature. You’ll love the lush public parks which are cozy spots for picnics, camping and walking.

The summer-stock playhouse, movie theaters, art galleries and live music provide quality diversions from the activities outdoors. Shops range from clothing to books, antiques and linens, running the gamut from the posh to the practical. You won’t be able to leave the area without sampling a few of Okoboji’s wide array of restaurants—something to tempt every palate.

For those who love the winter months, the lakes provide a wonderful spot for ice fishing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling and hunting. Okoboji comes alive during the University of Okoboji Winter Games. You won’t want to miss watching the fireworks... on the ice.

WHY YOU SHOULD BE A CANDIDATE:

1. This is a tremendous opportunity for the right person – a chance to move an already great school to an even higher level.
2. A growing school district with a strong and stable financial picture.
3. An outstanding, experienced staff.
4. A dedicated and conscientious board of education.
5. Ideally located in the Heart of the Iowa Great Lakes.
6. A school with optimum facilities.
7. A community that has demonstrated strong support for its schools.
8. Parents who are supportive and committed to making this school the best it can be.
9. A student body that wants to learn and grow and be productive members of society.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

All application materials should be mailed to:

Dr. Gaylord Tryon, President
G. Tryon & Associates
PO Box 265 Johnston, Iowa  50131-0265
Telephone                  515-727-5807
Email                          gtryon@mchsi.com
Web Site                    www.gtryon.com

Applicants, and/or their designees, are asked not to contact members of the Board of Education during this search process.

The application form is included on this web site.  Please note the five narrative questions on page four of the application form.

In order to be considered for this position, your application materials must include and be presented in the following order (please do not staple, bind, or fold your application materials; please send everything on letter size paper and printed on one side only):

a.       a letter of application

b.       resume’

c.       completed application form (including signatures)

d.       written response to the five narrative questions on page four

e.       maximum of five recent letters of recommendation regarding your professional work (preferably, at least two from your current employer)

f.        photocopy of college/university graduate transcripts

g.       a copy of (or documented evidence of eligibility) a current Iowa high school principal’s endorsement—including your evaluator approval

APPROXIMATE TIMELINE:

January 30, 2010                              Position advertised in various sources

February 26, 2010                            Application deadline; applications must be received no later than
            February 26, 2010

March 15, 2010                                 Board selects individuals for interviews

March 16-17, 2010                            Interviews with key personnel and board of education

March 22, 2010                                 Target date to complete selection process

April 12, 2010                                    Approval of candidate at regular board meeting

July 1, 2010                                        Start date for new high school principal

G.Tryon And Associates
P.O. Box 265
Johnston, Iowa
50131-0265
phone 515-727-5807
fax 515-278-2672
email: gtryon@mchsi.com