Dwyer says she won't apply for Douglas school superintendent

After six months in the district’s top seat, Jeannie Dwyer was ready to take on the position full time, only to be rejected at Tuesday’s school board meeting.

Trustee Yvonne Wagstaff made a motion to appoint Dwyer to the position, which was seconded by trustee Carey Kangas.

“It would certainly be easy to just finish this process and be done with it,” said Doug Englekirk. “I came knowing it was pretty much on my shoulders and it sounds like it still is.”

Englekirk and trustees David Burns, Katherine Dickerson, and Susan Jansen voted against appointing Dwyer to superintendent. Instead the board decided to move forward with the hiring process,  which Dwyer still has opportunity to apply for position.

“I think it’s fair that we go with the process and let those that have been standing in line be heard as well,” said Dickerson. “And hey, if Jeannie wins and she has the best score at the end of it, I think that’s awesome, but I think those that have taken the time to put themselves in line it’s only fair they are heard as well.”

Dwyer said she was not going to submit an application.

“I am here, I’ve been here, I’ve been doing the job and all the jobs and I will keep doing them no matter what you decide because I care about Douglas County School District,” said Dwyer. “But if you are going to make me apply, and go through an application process, I am not going to do that.

“I feel like I have been through the application process. I feel like you are telling me that you are holding out for someone better, that I’m just not doing a good enough job and that there has to be someone out there better than me.”

Since Keith Lewis left the position in November, Dwyer stepped up as acting superintendent for the district while still acting as the executive director of Inclusive Education and later taking on more responsibilities after the resignation of the HR director and board secretary.

In moving forward with the hiring process of selecting a superintendent, Dwyer said there were eight of the 13 original candidates who properly filled out applications and are ready to be posted for the public and board for viewing.

Englekirk made a motion to accept superintendent applications until May 3. The district will then post the applicants for the public and board to view in the May board meeting agenda by May 7 with all supportive documents including screen tools. The board will return screen tools by May 17 and a special board meeting will be scheduled for the board to share their ratings, provide justification for their scores, and discuss how to advance any candidates to the next stage of the hiring process.