2 more interview for West Fargo superintendent
By Teri Finneman, The Forum
Published Saturday, April 22, 2006
Two candidates from different ends of the country interviewed Friday for the West Fargo superintendent position as the district continues its search for the next top leader.
Dana Diesel Wallace, senior director of middle school education for Wake County Public Schools in Raleigh, N.C., met with the board first on the second day of semifinalist interviews.
The School Board also met with Todd Hess, director of contract administration for the Anchorage (Alaska) School District.
Wallace worked as a high school teacher, vice principal, assistant principal and principal in Virginia and New Jersey before accepting her current position in 2002.
She now leads the curricular and instructional programs for 31 middle schools and 28,000 students. She attended Harvard in Cambridge, Mass., for her master's degree and Columbia University in New York City for her doctorate.
Wallace, whose interview was her first trip to North Dakota, said she's interested in the West Fargo superintendent position because she's good at working where there's a lot of growth.
She also likes the challenge of further improving a district that already has strong achievement rates.
The strength and quality of the people, the students and the school board - along with the programs being built here - are also attractive, Wallace said.
";You don't find this across the country,"; she said.
Her management style is an organizational approach that includes open communication, setting goals and accountability, Wallace told the board.
";I have some very strong beliefs about quality education and the outcomes of a quality education,"; she said. ";I really believe it is a school district's responsibility to keep open and increase the options for kids in our schools.";
Hess has been in his current position since 2002 and works in a district with 49,600 students. He graduated from Moorhead High School in 1970 and from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 1975.
He received a master's degree and superintendent endorsement from the University of Alaska, Anchorage.
His previous experience includes working as an elementary teacher, assistant principal, principal and supervisor of elementary education in Anchorage, where's he's worked for the past 29 years.
His strengths as an administrator are his ability to put people at ease, to listen and to be respectful of others' positions, he told the board.
His management style is collaboration and communication, he said. This includes reaching out to the staff, students and community.
";It's important, as the superintendent, that you set the tone for what you want the school district to accomplish,"; Hess said.
He also thinks it's important to look at how students are doing, what areas need improvement and how such data is guiding instruction.
He's interested in the West Fargo superintendent position because of his ties to the area, the opportunity for advancement and the quality of the district.
";I would work overtime to ensure this community felt like they were getting good value for their dollar,"; Hess told the board.
The School Board interviewed Louise Dardis, the district's assistant superintendent, and Scott Staska, superintendent for the Rocori School District in Cold Spring, Minn., on Thursday.
Interviews will conclude Sunday with Matthew Wendt of Kansas and Rick Buresh of Bismarck.
The board plans to discuss Monday whether to offer the position to one of the candidates or narrow its list for possible second interviews.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Teri Finneman at (701) 241-5560
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