The search for a new superintendent for the Kent City School District is down to three candidates.
Due to the spring retirement announcement of Superintendent George Joseph, the search process has been expedited, with the board of education narrowing a list of six candidates to three: current Assistant Superintendent and Personnel Director Tom Larkin, current Director of Student Services Justin Gates, and Aireane Curtis, superintendent of Windham Exempted Village Schools.
The search process was organized in April; progressed through a recruitment period of several weeks, a series of community and staff focus-group sessions, and a first round of interviews with six candidates; and has now moved to the next stage, where the board has chosen the three finalists.
“The board enjoyed meeting all first-round candidates,” school board President Brian Boykin said. “Although all six are talented administrators and offered quality interviews, we had consensus around the three chosen to continue in this process and believe they represent the best potential fit for Kent Schools.”
Staff and community members are invited to attend a “meet the candidate” event from 5:45 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 6 at Roosevelt High School. Each finalist will spend 45 minutes with the group.
The board of education will also interview each finalist a second time that evening. If the process continues as planned, an announcement about the district’s next superintendent is expected to be made before the end of June.
