District Names Two Finalists for Superintendent Job

District 833 is one step closer to having a new superintendent after two finalists were named after Saturday’s interviews.

The district will chose between Lolli Haws and Keith Jacobus to replace Superintendent Mark Porter, whose .

Currently instructional superintendent for District of Columbia Public Schools, Washington D.C., Haws also has experience as an elementary school principal in the Virginia and Missouri.

Her career started in Intermediate District 287, Minnesota, as a teacher. She holds a Ph.D. from St. Louis University, a masters in education from Southern Illinois University, and BA from Augustana College in South Dakota.

In a release from District 833, Haws described herself as educator at heart.

“We need to teach for our child’s future, not for our past,” she said in a statement. “We are still way too stuck in teaching the way we were taught and still holding school the way we went to school when we were kids.”

Jacobus is currently serving as assistant superintendent of Leadership, Teaching and Learning, for the Osseo Area School District.

He has also been director of schools for the Douglas County School District in Castle Rock, Colo. Other administrative experiences include being the executive director of Learning Services, and Executive Director of Personnel Services, and principal for the Lewis-Palmer High School, all with the Lewis-Palmer School District in Monument, Colo.

Jacobus’ degrees include a Ph.D. from the University of Denver, master’s in Education from Lesley College and BS from Colorado State University.

When asked what he’s learned about the South Washington County School District through his research he said, “I’ve heard wonderful things about the culture of this district being student-centered and people-centered.”

In the release, he added that a culture that included this focus would be important. If selected as superintendent, he would like employees and others to say, “at least Keith knows what I’m doing.”

In the release, he said he would work to be visible to the point that people recognize that he is well aware of what is going on across the district.

The finalist interviews will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, May 8-9; Jacobus on Tuesday, Haws on Wednesday. Each of the candidates will spend the full day in the district.

The candidates from 4-4:50 p.m. each day will meet staff in the staff development room at . From 5-5:50 p.m., staff, parents, students and the community are invited to visit and hear from candidates.

The final interviews for the candidates are scheduled for May 8 at East Ridge High School in the Staff Development Room, and May 9 at the District Service Center in the Board Room, from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Should the board be prepared to make a decision on May 9, following the second interview, the announcement may be made that night. If more time is needed, a decision-making meeting of the District 833 School Board is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, May 10 at the District Service Center.

The selected candidate will then work through the negotiation of a contract with approval anticipated at the May 24 School Board Meeting. The new superintendent will begin duties on July 1.

All school board meetings and interviews are open to the public. The district will not be videotaping any portion of this process until the tentative decision-making meeting on Thursday, May 10, beginning at 6 p.m.

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