Interviews and meet & greet slated for May 13-14

Three finalists have been named in the search for a new Superintendent of Haxtun Schools. The local Board of Education announced the three following a closed-door, executive session to review applications in a Tuesday, April 23 meeting.

With the assistance of Randy Zila, with McPherson & Jacobson, LLC, the Board of Education received 10 applications for the superintendent position. McPherson & Jacobson is an executive recruitment and development firm hired by the Haxtun School District to help facilitate the search.

After review of applications in an hour-long executive session, the Board of Education narrowed those 10 applicants down to the final three. The three finalists include Aron Jones of Fort Morgan; Todd Bissell from Windsor; and Barry Schaeffer of Lewellen, Neb.

Now that the three have been named as finalists, their applications are available for public review and interviews will be open to the public. Interviews are slated for May 13 and 14 in Haxtun at the local Board of Cooperative Educational Services building. A candidate meet and greet is slated for May 13 at the Haxtun Community Center at 6:30 p.m.

A final candidate selection is expected to come on May 14. Plans are to have a candidate in place for a July 1 contract start date.

A little about each candidate:

Aron Jones

• Graduated from Pueblo Central High School; Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Southern Colorado with a minor in Elementary Education with a K-6 teaching license; Master of Arts in Education/Administration and Supervision from the University of Phoenix with a K-12 principal license; Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix; Superintendent Endorsement from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs with an administrator license.

• Current Superintendent of Schools at Woodlin School District.

Todd Bissell

• Graduated from Briggsdale High School; Bachelors of Arts in Education with a major in Social Studies from Colorado State University; Master’s Degree in Education Administration from Colorado State University; teacher, principal and administrator licenses.

• Current Faculty Assistant/Athletic Director at New Vision Charter School in Loveland.

Barry Schaeffer

• Bachelor of Science in Education with emphasis in Business Education from Chadron State College; Master of Science in Education with an emphasis in Business Education from Chadron State College and Educational Specialist in School Administration/Education Leadership from Wayne State College. Nebraska Professional Administrative Certificate with basic business, principal and superintendent endorsements.

• Current Superintendent at Morill Public Schools in Morrill, Neb.

In other business the Board:

• Approved the 2024-25 salary schedule and in doing so, raised the base certified teacher rate to $40,000;

• Approved the personnel report including: Riley Thompson, third grade teacher; Isaac Wagoner, part-time summer janitorial support; Allison Johnson, substitute junior high janitor; Shawn Cody, high school girls’ assistant basketball coach; and Jessica Japp, fifth grade teacher. The following change of roles were also approved: Audree Edwards, full-time elementary counselor and district assessment coordinator (extended hourly contract) and Jeanna Clark , self-contained sixth grade and GT Coordinator (extended hourly contract).