The Board of Education of Richland School District Two, Columbia, South Carolina, is seeking a highly qualified, fully certified, educational leader to serve as Superintendent. The Board wishes to have the successful candidate assume the responsibilities of the position July 1, 2023.

McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C., Executive Recruitment and Development, has been engaged as the consultant in a search for outstanding candidates. They will assist the Board of Education in identifying and screening the candidates.

Enrollment: 28,544 students

Location: Columbia, South Carolina

(2 hours from the beach; 2 hours from the mountains; 2 hours from Atlanta, GA and 1 ½  hours from Charlotte, NC)

The Qualifications

The candidate must have the background, skills, and abilities essential for excellence in educational leadership. The Board recognizes that selecting a superintendent is one of the most important decisions it will make. The Richland School District Two seeks a superintendent with the following characteristics.

• A passion for helping each child to accomplish their unique individual potential and a belief in having high, but healthy expectations is essential. The superintendent will bring a track record of success in working with students from diverse backgrounds and increasing learning outcomes for all students. Is focused on results for academic success, supportive of magnet programs and has a philosophy that extra-curricular opportunities contribute to the growth and development of well-rounded students.

• The superintendent will be a kind and approachable leader who is bold, but selfless. Being innovative and creative with a “can-do” attitude and one who always puts the needs of the students first are essential qualities.

• The superintendent will be a responsive leader who can successfully guide a large organization, fully recognizing and utilizing the talents and skills of his or her team. The superintendent will have experience at multiple levels in a variety of K-12 roles and will bring proven expertise in leading others. 

• The Richland Two superintendent will have high, but realistic expectations for all and will listen to the ideas of others. Recognizing the importance of being friendly, yet having the ability to engage in tough conversations when necessary, will be key. Demonstrating commitment to working with staff and parents to address student behavior and improving discipline approaches, being open to receiving input and remaining flexible while continuing to grow and develop a diverse workforce are necessary attributes.

• A commitment to building and maintaining relationships with all stakeholders, demonstrating empathy for others, becoming an active member of the community, being proactive and trustworthy and serving as a positive representative of the Richland Two School District are vital qualities. The superintendent and the school board will work together as a collaborative team, always focused on meeting the needs of the students, staff and community.

Salary:  Competitive

Search Timeline:

• Closing date for applications: May 31, 2023 (11:30 p.m. central time)
• Board of Education selects finalists to interview: June 12, 2023
• Interviews with the Board of Education: Week of June 19, 2023
• Selection of new Superintendent: June 27, 2023
• Start date: July 3, 2023

About McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C.

McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C. is an Executive Recruitment and Development company specializing in searches for school district superintendents. Our firm has conducted over 940 searches since 1991.It's About the Kids!

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