As we shared in a March 2 news release, Deputy Superintendent Debora Collins has announced her retirement, effective June 30, 2023. We hope you will join us in thanking Ms. Collins for her four decades of outstanding service as a teacher and leader for Albemarle students, staff and families!

To fill the vacancy left by Ms. Collins’ retirement, the school division is looking to hire a new Assistant Superintendent for Instruction. We will conduct a nationwide search led by leading national search firm McPherson & Jacobson. The hiring process will include seeking stakeholder input from a variety of sources, and there are two ways in which you can participate:

First, on Wednesday, March 15, we will engage in a series of 45-minute stakeholder input sessions, during which we hope to hear from students, teachers, Department of Instruction staff, school leaders, parents/guardians, and community partners related to the qualities they prioritize for the next Assistant Superintendent for Instruction. If you would like to participate in one of these focus groups, please complete this form by 5 p.m. on March 13.

Please note: Focus sessions will be held both in person and virtually. In-person sessions will be held in Room 320 of the County Office Building located at 401 McIntire Road in Charlottesville. To accommodate the school day, teacher and student input sessions will be held via Zoom.

Second, following the focus group sessions, we will open a survey for staff, students, families, and community members related to the position.

The input we receive from the focus group sessions and the survey will be invaluable, as it will inform the consultant’s screening process to narrow our applicant pool. Our goal is to focus on applicants who demonstrate characteristics and criteria that rise to the top according to stakeholder input.

Applicants will go through several rounds of virtual and in-person interviews, and stakeholders will be represented on those panels. Panel feedback will be provided to the superintendent, who will select candidates for the final round interview. We anticipate that the school board will make its appointment for this position by the end of May; however, please understand that circumstances may arise that delay the hiring process. The new Assistant Superintendent for Instruction is expected to begin work on July 1, 2023.

Should you have any questions about the process, please contact Clare Keiser or Dan Redding.