Status Report as of Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The SC board voted unanimously to hire Mr. Lance Villers, currently superintendent of Custer County School District in Westcliffe, Colorado as Santiam Christian’s next superintendent. Mr. Villers’ selection was the unanimous recommendation of the search committee. Click here to view the letter from the SC board president announcing their decision. God’s hand was evident throughout the search and selection process and we firmly believe that the selection of Mr. Villers as superintendent is God’s will for Santiam. Mr. Baker, the board, and the search committee are very pleased that Mr. Villers will become part of the Santiam Christian family. Over the next several months, the board and the administrative team will begin to work with Mr. Villers on a transition plan and establish an opportunity for you to meet him and his family.

Status Report as of Friday, March 9, 2012

On March 4th -7th, the Search Committee (Committee) brought back one of the three candidates that we interviewed in February, along with his family, for a more extensive visit. Over the three day visit, the candidate was able to meet with faculty and staff and representatives of the Committee, as well as key administrative staff and the board. He and his family were also able to attend Open House events. This was a very positive experience in that we got to know the candidate and his wife better and more thoroughly evaluate his fit with Santiam.

The Committee and representatives from SIMA then met again on Thursday, March 8th, to conduct a telephone interview of a recent applicant, to discuss and reflect on the visitation experience, and to determine next steps. While the process continues, SIMA will continue to accept additional applications and will forward them to the Committee for review and evaluation as appropriate.

What Happens Next? 
Over the following days and weeks, the Committee will further evaluate the search status and the superintendent candidates. In addition, SIMA will complete any additional reference checking to confirm the background and fit of the candidates. Please also refer to the project timeline for more comprehensive information regarding the search process.

Status Report as of Tuesday, February 21, 2012

There has been a lot of activity with the search process since our last status report. We conducted in-person interviews of three outstanding candidates over February 6th, 7th and 8th. Each candidate visited the Santiam Christian campus on an informal basis to get a feel for Santiam on a normal school day and tour the facilities. Each candidate was interviewed by the search committee, with a morning interview session for those committee members who could participate at that time and an afternoon interview session for those members for which that time was more convenient. This was a very positive experience in that we got to know each candidate better and evaluate his fit with Santiam. The search committee then met again on Monday, February 13th, to hear from SIMA about the results of their in-depth candidate evaluation process and to discuss next steps. While the Committee considers future actions, SIMA will continue to accept additional applications and will forward them to the Committee for review and evaluation as appropriate. 

What Happens Next?
Over the following weeks, the Committee will further evaluate the candidates and set the agenda for future candidate visits, which will include meeting with the board, the administrative team and the faculty. In addition, SIMA will complete any additional reference checking to confirm the background and fit of the candidates. Please also refer to the project timeline for more comprehensive information regarding the search process.

Status Report as of Tuesday, January 26, 2012

Since the last status report, the Search Committee (Committee), assisted by SIMA International (SIMA), evaluated several candidates who, based on their application materials and discussions with SIMA representatives, appeared to be a good fit with our Critical Leadership Benchmarks.  Over the last several weeks, the Committee interviewed several of those candidates over the phone and received feedback from SIMA on the results of their reference checks and motivational analyses.  In-person interviews are planned during the month of February.   Not surprisingly, we have been blessed with strong candidates who possess significant educational and spiritual leadership experience. While the Committee considers these candidates further, SIMA will continue to accept additional applications and will forward them to the Committee for review and evaluation as appropriate.

What Happens Next?
During the month of February, the Committee will be conducting in-person interviews to begin to narrow the field and SIMA will complete their more in-depth candidate evaluation process and additional reference checking.  Please also refer to the project timeline for more comprehensive information regarding the search process.  As you can see from the project timeline, the Committee is entering the final stages of the recruitment process and will be pretty active in the following months, culminating in the selection by the Board of our new Superintendent sometime in March or April.

Status Report as of Monday, December 5, 2011

The Search Committee, working closely with our search firm, SIMA International (SIMA), has finalized the Critical Leadership Benchmarks document that will be used to evaluate the overall ‘fit’ of candidates for Santiam’s next superintendent. SIMA has placed advertisements, sent direct mail solicitations, and continues to work through their extensive contacts to spread the word about this exciting opportunity.

Additionally, Jill Martinson, one of the faculty representatives on the Search Committee, has agreed to lead the prayer efforts in support of the superintendent search process.

Status Report as of Tuesday, October 4, 2011

The Search Committee, working closely with our search firm, SIMA International (SIMA), has finalized the Opportunity Profile, which is the public document that is being circulated via targeted advertising and networking to generate interest in the position.  That document has been posted on the Santiam web site.  The Search Committee has also approved an advertising plan that will guide SIMA in getting out the word to prospective Superintendent candidates.

What Happens Next?

Over the next several weeks, SIMA will place advertisements and work through their extensive contacts to get the Santiam Superintendent opportunity in the hands of prospective candidates.  They will also begin receiving and reviewing applications for the position.  Additionally, the Search Committee will finalize the critical requirements of the Superintendent position, which will be used to evaluate the overall ‘fit’ of candidates for this position.  Please also refer to the project timeline for more comprehensive information regarding the search process.

Status Report as of Monday, August 15, 2011

It is been relatively quiet on the Superintendent Search process ‘front’ since the last update July 11. Our search firm, SIMA International (SIMA), has been completing their interviewing process discussed in the last update and drafting the Opportunity Profile, which is the public document that will be circulated via targeted advertising and networking to generate interest in the position. The Search Committee is now working to finalize the Opportunity Profile.

Status Report as of Monday, July 11, 2011

We have just completed the site visit of our search firm, SIMA International (SIMA).  SIMA representatives Laura Coverstone, Tommy Thomas, and Ed Poff met with the search committee last Wednesday evening for a time of team building and prayer.  Then, on Thursday and Friday, the SIMA team interviewed 36 individuals representing the following constituencies at Santiam:

• Parents                           18 (including 10 board members)
• Founder/Supporter         1
• Faculty                             10 (3 elementary, 1 JH, 4 JH/HS, and 2 HS)
• Staff                                    2
• Administrators                 5

The results of this interview process, along with the results of the online survey that closed June 28 (see a summary report of the survey results in the Executive Summary), will be used to help develop the “Opportunity Profile,” which is the public document that will be circulated via targeted advertising and networking to generate interest in the position.  Once completed, the Opportunity Profile will be made available on Santiam’s web site.  These results will also be used to develop a comprehensive listing of the critical requirements of the position, which will be used to evaluate the overall ‘fit’ of candidates for this position.  This information will not be publicly available in order to prevent candidates from honing their interview responses to fit our needs.