Print
E-mail
Comment
Superintendent finalist started as math teacher
After a seven-month, nationwide search for the Douglas County School District's next superintendent, the board of education has selected as its finalist a young superintendent from an Adams County school district.
By By: Jennifer Simonson
After a seven-month, nationwide search for the Douglas County School District's next superintendent, the board of education has selected as its finalist a young superintendent from an Adams County school district.
Days past his 41st birthday, Jim Christensen is excited about the possibility of becoming the district's third superintendent since its creation in 1958.
The board immediately began searching for superintendent Rick O'Connell's replacement after he announced his retirement in July. After months of searching, it will make its final selection at the April 1 board meeting.
"When Rick O'Connell came to the district, he was a young energetic leader and he did a fantastic job stepping into a time of remarkable change. I see Jim in the same way and am confident he is up to the task of running the district," said board president John Sheehan.
Growing up in Wyoming in a family full of teachers, Christensen has spent his whole life in education. Starting as a math teacher, he has moved up the ladder of educational leadership and began his first superintendent position at Sheridan County School District No. 2 in 1997.
After three years of supervising 3,500 students and 550 employees, he moved to Colorado to his position as superintendent of Adams 12 Five Star School District in Northglenn.
The 32,000-student school district serves Broomfield, Federal Heights, Northglenn, Thornton, Westminster and portions of unincorporated Adams County.
Averaging about two years in a position, Christensen was a math teacher at a Gila Bend, Ariz., high school, then was principal of a Norman, Okla., middle school, before becoming superintendent of the Adams 12 school district.
Like the past two superintendents, however, if he is selected as the district's newest leader, it is a job he wants to retire from, he said.
"I think it is a real compliment to the district that its leaders want to be involved for so long," he said.
On opposite end of the metro area as Douglas County, officials at Douglas County and Adams 12 Five Star school districts have spent time managing the rapid growth of its schools.
While Adams 12 Five Star schools have not grown as rapidly as Douglas County schools have, district officials have had to go to taxpayers to pass bonds and instructional override referendums to pay for the needs of the growing student body.
The student body in the northern school district is more diverse than in Douglas County, Christensen said. While Douglas County has a range of rural versus urban lifestyles, Adams 12 Five Star has a higher poverty level and more ethnic and language diversity.
Christensen's experience with such diversity will come in handy, because as the district grows it likely will become more diverse.
Board members, district staff and teacher's union officials have visited Adams 12 school district to talk with many members of Christensen's staff.
"So far I am very impressed with what we have found," said Tim McGraw, president of the Douglas County Teacher Federation. "He is not one satisfied with the status quo, but has high expectations. I think he will help upgrade what is already going on in the district."
Christensen does not have specific plans for changes in Douglas County. At first he will invest his time into observing and learning as much as he can about the district.
Days past his 41st birthday, Jim Christensen is excited about the possibility of becoming the district's third superintendent since its creation in 1958.
The board immediately began searching for superintendent Rick O'Connell's replacement after he announced his retirement in July. After months of searching, it will make its final selection at the April 1 board meeting.
"When Rick O'Connell came to the district, he was a young energetic leader and he did a fantastic job stepping into a time of remarkable change. I see Jim in the same way and am confident he is up to the task of running the district," said board president John Sheehan.
Growing up in Wyoming in a family full of teachers, Christensen has spent his whole life in education. Starting as a math teacher, he has moved up the ladder of educational leadership and began his first superintendent position at Sheridan County School District No. 2 in 1997.
After three years of supervising 3,500 students and 550 employees, he moved to Colorado to his position as superintendent of Adams 12 Five Star School District in Northglenn.
The 32,000-student school district serves Broomfield, Federal Heights, Northglenn, Thornton, Westminster and portions of unincorporated Adams County.
Averaging about two years in a position, Christensen was a math teacher at a Gila Bend, Ariz., high school, then was principal of a Norman, Okla., middle school, before becoming superintendent of the Adams 12 school district.
Like the past two superintendents, however, if he is selected as the district's newest leader, it is a job he wants to retire from, he said.
"I think it is a real compliment to the district that its leaders want to be involved for so long," he said.
On opposite end of the metro area as Douglas County, officials at Douglas County and Adams 12 Five Star school districts have spent time managing the rapid growth of its schools.
While Adams 12 Five Star schools have not grown as rapidly as Douglas County schools have, district officials have had to go to taxpayers to pass bonds and instructional override referendums to pay for the needs of the growing student body.
The student body in the northern school district is more diverse than in Douglas County, Christensen said. While Douglas County has a range of rural versus urban lifestyles, Adams 12 Five Star has a higher poverty level and more ethnic and language diversity.
Christensen's experience with such diversity will come in handy, because as the district grows it likely will become more diverse.
Board members, district staff and teacher's union officials have visited Adams 12 school district to talk with many members of Christensen's staff.
"So far I am very impressed with what we have found," said Tim McGraw, president of the Douglas County Teacher Federation. "He is not one satisfied with the status quo, but has high expectations. I think he will help upgrade what is already going on in the district."
Christensen does not have specific plans for changes in Douglas County. At first he will invest his time into observing and learning as much as he can about the district.
Submit a Comment
|
You must be logged in to post a comment.
|
Not yet a registered member?
Click here to become one. |
