ISD Superintendent Search: Your Voice Matters
The Independence School District Board of Education has partnered with the Missouri School Boards’ Association (MSBA) to conduct a comprehensive, nationwide search for the next ISD superintendent.
We are committed to keeping our staff, families, students, and community informed and engaged throughout the process. This page will serve as your one-stop resource for updates, timelines, and resources related to this search.
Search Process Timeline
Completed:
September 12th - 22nd: Stakeholder Survey open to accept responses
October 1st: Application window opens
Upcoming:
October 14th: Community Input Forums
November 11th: Stakeholder Survey / Community Input Form results presentation given to Board
December 31st: Application window closes
January 8th: Board reviews applications and selects candidates for Screening Interviews
January 14th: Screening Interviews
January 15th: Date held for Screening Interviews if inclement weather impacts January 14th
January 21st: Finalist Interviews
January 22nd: Date held for Finalist Interviews if inclement weather impacts January 21st
End of January: Board selects and announces the next ISD Superintendent
Update on Superintendent Search
January 9th, 2025
Independence School District Shares Update on Superintendent Search and Next Steps
Independence, MO — The Independence School District is pleased to provide an update to students, staff, families, and community members regarding the ongoing search for the district’s next superintendent.
Working in partnership with the Missouri School Boards’ Association (MSBA), the Board of Education has completed the initial application and review phase of the search. The district received a strong pool of 20+ applicants, reflecting significant interest in leadership opportunities within Independence School District. The candidate pool includes both in-state and out-of-state applicants, representing a diverse range of professional experiences, educational backgrounds, and leadership pathways.
Following a detailed review of applications, credentials, and experience summaries, the Board will move into the interview phase of the process. The next steps in the superintendent search include screening interviews with semifinalists on January 14th and finalist interviews on January 21st.
In preparation for these interviews, the Board will finalize screening and formal interview questions, confirm interview teams, and continue reviewing candidate materials to ensure alignment with district priorities.
Additional updates will be shared with stakeholders as the search progresses. The Board looks forward to next steps in the search for the next Independence School District Superintendent and hopes to name a new leader by the end of the month as planned.
Stakeholder Survey Report published
November 11, 2025
MSBA presented to the ISD Board of Education at a Special Meeting on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, in which the search firm presented a comprehensive report which summarized all of the responses to the Stakeholder Survey and feedback from the Community Input Forums.
"The ideal superintendent for ISD will be a strategic, compassionate, and visionary leader who:
-Combines strong fiscal management with innovative thinking
-Develops and empowers staff to reach their full potential,
-Leads with transparency, collaboration, and approachability -and-
-Builds a safe, inclusive, and future-focused school system that reflects community values and aspirations."Click the button below to download the full Stakeholder Survey Report, and watch the full Special Meeting here: https://youtu.be/3HYBV-dCtcs
Superintendent Job Posting Now Live
October 1, 2025
The Independence School District Board of Education has officially opened the search for our next Superintendent. The job posting is now live, and qualified candidates are invited to apply.
All application materials, position details, and timelines are available through the Missouri School Boards’ Association (MSBA) at: https://www.applitrack.com/msba/onlineapp/JobPostings/view.asp?AppliTrackJobId=255&FromAdmin=True
We encourage interested candidates to review the posting and apply within the stated timeline.
ISD Community Input Forums
Your voice matters in shaping the future of our district! As part of the search for our next superintendent, we’re hosting community input forums to gather input from staff, families, students, and community members.
These sessions, facilitated by MSBA, are an opportunity to share what qualities, experiences, and priorities you believe are most important for our next leader. We are hosting one forum completely in Spanish, and ISD Interpreters will be at the others. Feedback from these forums will directly inform the Board of Education about what ISD stakeholders are looking for in our next leader.
JOIN US:
- Tuesday, October 14th at 5:30 p.m. - Bridger Middle School Cafeteria
- Tuesday, October 14th at 5:30 p.m. - Van Horn High School Cafeteria
- Tuesday, October 14th at 7:00 p.m. - Van Horn High School Cafeteria (forum hosted in Spanish)
There are additional forums happening with the following groups:
- ITEA - Transportation union representatives
- IESP - Facilities union representatives
- ISD district leadership
- ISD school principals
- ISD high school students
- Members of the Independence Chamber of Commerce
- INEA - Teacher union representatives
- MSTA - Teacher union representatives
It’s important to us to gather input from a wide range of groups with an interest in the future leadership of the ISD!
FAQs
- How will the community be involved?
- Who makes the final decision?
- Will there be public interviews of finalists?
- When will the new superintendent start?
How will the community be involved?
Who makes the final decision?
Will there be public interviews of finalists?
When will the new superintendent start?
Search Firm Information
Who is MSBA?
The ISD Board of Education voted in August to partner with the Missouri School Boards' Association (MSBA) in its search for the district's next superintendent.
From their website:
MSBA offers a comprehensive superintendent search program designed to help school boards find the best leadership for their districts. With personalized support, MSBA guides boards through every step of the search process—from developing the job profile to conducting interviews and selecting the ideal candidate. Our experienced consultants ensure a transparent and efficient process, helping districts identify leaders who are well-aligned with their community’s vision and goals.
Stakeholder Survey
(no longer accepting responses)
Survey window:
September 12th - 22nd
The Independence School District Board has recently hired the Missouri School Boards' Association to support the search for a new district superintendent. The search will begin immediately and conclude with the hire of a new successful leader. Your feedback regarding what "desired qualifications" are most important for this position will ensure the new hire is a good fit for both the school district and community.
Thank you to those who completed the survey. We appreciate the time you took to share your insights and to rank personal and professional priorities for the new superintendent.
The search team is working to produce a general report based on the information gathered in this survey. The report will be shared with the board to advise them on what priorities the district and community stakeholders are looking for in a new leader.
The hiring timeline includes application due by December 31st and interviews with finalists that will begin January 15th.