School Board Selects Search Firm to Assist in Hiring of Superintendent

The Des Moines School Board unanimously voted to select Ray and Associates as the search firm to assist them in the process of hiring the next superintendent for Iowa’s largest provider of public education.

“We had some very good firms to choose from, but the combination of Ray and Associates’ emphasis on public engagement, commitment to identifying a diverse field of candidates, and deep familiarity with Iowa made them the best fit for Des Moines Public Schools,” said Dick Murphy, chair of the Des Moines School Board. “The hiring of a Superintendent is one of the most important things a School Board every does and I am glad that we have a good team in place to work with ourselves and the community to find the best possible leader for our district.”

Ray and Associates, founded in 1975, is based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Following the completion and signing of a contract, Ray and Associates will begin work immediately with the Board. Among the support they provide to the Board during the hiring process includes seeking community input on the qualities of the best Superintendent, creating a profile for the ideal candidate, and recruiting and screening top applicants from across the state and nation.

Other firms that submitted proposals and were interviewed by the Board were:

  • BWP & Associates (Libertyville, IL)
  • McPherson & Jacobson LLC (Omaha, NE)
  • Proact Search (Wilmette, IL)

For additional information, visit SuperintendentSearch.dmschools.org.