Superintendent Search

Overview

With Superintendent John Hood's decision to retire on March 26, 2026, Okemos Public Schools is partnering with the Michigan Leadership Institute (MLI) to conduct a comprehensive and community-centered search for our next Superintendent. MLI brings decades of statewide leadership experience and a well-established search process designed to identify outstanding executive leaders who reflect the values, strengths, and future needs of our district. The process includes multiple stages of planning, community engagement, recruitment, and candidate evaluation to ensure transparency and broad stakeholder involvement throughout every step.

Search Process

Okemos Public Schools is working with the Michigan Leadership Institute to follow a structured, multi-stage Superintendent Search process designed to be transparent, thorough, and responsive to the needs of the district. The Planning and Preparation Stage begins with the Board and MLI meeting to establish timelines, expectations, and planning parameters while collaborating to gather input from staff, families, and community members. This early phase includes developing both a candidate profile and a district/community profile based on stakeholder feedback, focus groups, and survey data, followed by the creation of a recruitment brochure and finalized position posting.

In the Implementation Stage, MLI conducts a wide-reaching recruitment effort by placing advertisements on relevant state and national platforms, issuing press releases, and conducting personal outreach to potential candidates. During this time, applications are screened, reference checks and web searches are completed, and top candidates are identified for Board consideration. MLI also provides a Board orientation workshop to help refine interview strategies and prepare for public interview sessions. Once interviews begin, MLI facilitates each step of the process, including gathering community feedback and coordinating next steps for the Board’s review.

The Final Stage focuses on selecting the district’s next Superintendent. This phase will include contract negotiations and the appointment of the new leader. After the selection, MLI continues to provide transition support by offering professional mentoring and governance workshops throughout the Superintendent’s first year, ensuring a strong start and continued alignment with district goals.

Community Engagement

Community involvement is a central component of the Superintendent Search, ensuring that the process reflects the values, priorities, and aspirations of Okemos Public Schools. Throughout the search, MLI and the district will gather perspectives from students, families, staff, and community members to help shape the candidate profile and highlight the “Points of Pride” that make Okemos a strong and vibrant district.

Shaping the Search Criteria (Community Survey and Focus Groups)

During this phase, community members are invited to help define the characteristics, experience, and leadership qualities most important in the next Superintendent. This feedback directly informs the Candidate Profile, which MLI and the Board use as the core framework for recruitment and evaluation. The Community Survey is open to all stakeholders and offers a flexible, accessible way to share thoughts about district priorities, leadership expectations, future challenges, and the “Points of Pride” that make Okemos Public Schools unique. Responses are anonymous and reviewed by MLI to shape a clear, research-informed profile of the ideal Superintendent. This tool is especially valuable for individuals who prefer to share feedback privately or cannot attend a focus group.

Focus Groups provide an opportunity for deeper, facilitated discussion. MLI will meet with groups of parents, staff, students, and community members to explore leadership needs, district strengths, and the aspirations the community holds for the future of OPS. These sessions allow participants to share insights collaboratively and build shared understanding. Feedback from these conversations—combined with survey data—directly informs the Candidate Profile and helps guide the search process.

Providing Feedback on Candidates (Public Interviews and Input Tools)

Once applications have been screened and top candidates identified, community members will have additional opportunities to offer input during the interview stage of the search process. Candidate interviews will be conducted in public sessions, allowing community members to observe the discussions and learn more about each candidate’s background, leadership style, and vision for Okemos Public Schools. These sessions promote transparency and give stakeholders a firsthand look at the selection process. Following the public interviews, community members will be able to share their impressions of each candidate through structured feedback opportunities. These may include written input forms, digital surveys, or comment cards made available at the interviews. MLI and the Board will review this input as part of the overall evaluation of each candidate before moving forward with finalist decisions.