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Firms developing profile of new business leader For its second superintendent search in as many years, Pittsburgh school officials have enlisted the help of not one, but two national firms -- the International Center on Collaboration and Overton Consulting. Based in Naples, Fla., the International Center on Collaboration is a consulting firm that trains groups in developing effective administrative and policy-making skills and in learning how to work productively with other organizations in achieving shared goals. Gloria Frazier is managing senior partner of the center and her husband, Roger, is senior partner. Gloria Frazier has conducted training workshops for the Pittsburgh school board previously. The center’s current and previous clients include the San Diego Unified School District, the Cincinnati Public Schools, the Arkansas Department of Education, the National School Boards Association, and the office of the U.S. Secretary of Education. Overton Consulting is an executive search firm based in Mequon, Wis., a suburb of Milwaukee. The firm’s expert in education searches is partner Nancy Noeske. Noeske, a former teacher and school administrator, also has served as vice president of consumer relations for Wisconsin Electric Power Co. Among the districts Noeske has conducted searches for are the St. Paul, New Orleans, Denver and Providence school districts. For Pittsburgh, the Fraziers are working closely with the school district. They have been conducting training programs with the school board and interim Superintendent Helen Faison and interviewing more than 100 city residents and community and business leaders to determine what they want in a superintendent. From the local interviews and contacts they have across the country, the Fraziers and Noeske have begun compiling an informal list of possible candidates whose names they declined to release. They also are producing a draft superintendent profile based on the interviews with city residents and school officials that will be used when formal recruiting begins. Noeske said that, in general, the profile includes qualities such as:  A
track record in reforming urban schools or large organizations.
Excellent
interpersonal and communication skills.
An
ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with community, business and
foundation leaders.
The
ability to involve parents in the education of their children.
Pittsburgh’s existing strategic plan and the data collected through audits conducted by former Superintendent Dale Frederick will provide the next superintendent with a good foundation on which to build and will be used in recruiting candidates, Roger Frazier said. "This is not a case where you have to throw everything out and boldly go where no one has gone before," he said. "Now you need someone who will creatively, effectively and quickly make sustainable change."
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