The Del Mar Union School District has wrapped up the community engagement phase in its search for its next superintendent. Rising to the top of the most wanted characteristics for the new leader is someone who is a savvy communicator, open to , who values the history and culture of Del Mar and “demonstrates comion, empathy and love for students and the work.”
At the board’s direction, the executive search firm of Education Services (ESS) has cast a wide net to find the right person to replace Holly McClurg, who is retiring next month after serving as superintendent for the last 13 years. ESS said there is a strong pool of interest and the board can expect about 25 candidates vying for the position in the “dream destination” district, with interviews expected to occur on June 16-17 for those who make the final cut.
“There are really good qualified candidates that are seeking this opportunity,” said ESS consultant Suzette Lovely. “This is a great district, so many wonderful things are going on. (The question is) who’s going to be able to continue that trajectory?”
At the board’s May 18 meeting, ESS presented a leadership profile for the next superintendent, crafted with the input from teachers, staff, parents and community through an online survey, 25 different focus group meetings and two community forums. The themes and trends in the leadership profile will be used for interview questions and to vet “Del Mar worthy” applicants.
Lovely, a former Carlsbad Unified School District superintendent, led the engagement sessions with ESS consultant Vicki King, who served on the board of neighboring Solana Beach School District for 17 years before stepping down in 2023.
A total of 162 people participated in the process: In one session, the multi-use room at Ocean Air School was filled with 79 teachers, 19 people attended the two community forums, both in person and on Zoom. In the online survey, 259 people weighed in. Lovely said they were surprised by the number of people who showed up on fairly short notice, providing helpful input and constructive ideas: “People really care about this district.”
Board member Alan Kholos acknowledged the search as being one of the few times the district can gather this kind of valuable from all stakeholders.
“This is a really good roap on some of the things we can improve on,” Kholos said.
Per the input collected, special education was one of the biggest issues that will face the incoming superintendent. People expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the special education model in the district and shared issues about how students qualify for services, teacher training and how the district s neurodiverse learners without individualized educational programs (IEPs).
Declining enrollment, a statewide issue, was also offered as a district challenge. Fewer students can impact staffing decisions, the class size balances between school sites and specialized programs.
also centered on the need for improved communication that creates a better understanding about the decisions being made at the district level: “Everyone wants a voice,” Lovely said.
According to the online survey results, it was most important for the new superintendent’s experience and expertise to be in teaching and learning. Also ranking highly is an understanding of the schools and district culture, community relations and fiscal management. The top leadership quality people are looking for is someone who can create an atmosphere of trust (83%). Survey respondents were seeking a leader who is honest and ethical, approachable and inclusive, a problem solver and a good listener.
In ranking the district’s current conditions, survey respondents most agreed that Del Mar’s students receive a high-quality education that prepares them for what’s ahead and that academic goals are aligned districtwide —96.2% agreed or strongly agreed that students feel valued and connected to their schools.
King said those results are something that the district should be proud of.
“This really reflects the culture and climate that Del Mar has been able to create and the legacy that Dr. McClurg is leaving,” King said.
McClurg’s last day is set for July 21. Next month’s regular board meeting was moved up from July 30 to July 16 as the new superintendent’s contract must be approved in a regular meeting session.
