The Riverside Community School District has selected Alynn Coppock as its next superintendent, concluding a comprehensive leadership search conducted in partnership with HYA, led by associate Paul Tedesco.
Coppock began her new role on July 1, 2026, succeeding Superintendent Stephanie Anderson. The Riverside Board of Education partnered with HYA to identify a leader who could build on the district’s strengths while understanding and responding to the priorities of its students, staff, families, and community.
The search included extensive opportunities for stakeholder input, helping the district establish a clear leadership profile for its next superintendent. HYA associates engaged members of the Riverside community through interviews, focus groups, and an online survey to gather perspectives on the qualities and experience most important for the district’s next leader.
That community-centered approach continued throughout the selection process. Three finalists were invited to Riverside by the board of education for a full day of engagement on April 22. This day included tours of district schools and surrounding communities and interviews with groups representing students, certified and support staff, parents and community members, and district administrators and department leaders. The finalists also participated in interviews with the Board of Education, which ultimately selected Coppock.
A Leader with Deep Educational Experience
Coppock brings more than two decades of experience in education to her new position. She served as the Middle/High School Principal at West Sioux Middle/High School in Hawarden, Iowa, and previously served as a high school principal at Newell-Fonda High School. Her career also includes experience as a teacher, counselor, and assistant principal.
Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, a master’s degree in counseling from Creighton University, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Bridgewater State University, and an Education Specialist degree with a superintendent license from Drake University.
Throughout her career, Coppock has emphasized the importance of relationships, thoughtful decision-making, and creating school communities where students, staff, families, and community members feel connected to and proud of their schools. Those qualities align well with the priorities identified by Riverside stakeholders during the search process.
Finding the Right Leader for the Community
Riverside’s search demonstrates the value of a superintendent search process that goes beyond reviewing résumés and conducting interviews. The strongest leadership searches begin by understanding the district and its community, then using that information to identify the experiences, skills, and characteristics that matter most in its next leader.
At HYA, superintendent searches are designed around that principle. Our four-phase process, Engage, Recruit, Select, and Transition, helps boards establish a leadership profile grounded in community priorities, recruit a strong and diverse pool of candidates, evaluate candidates against those priorities, and support the district and new leader as they begin the transition.
Riverside’s successful search is another example of what can happen when a school board, community, and search firm work collaboratively toward a shared goal: finding the leader who is the right fit for the district and its future. HYA congratulates Alynn Coppock and the Riverside Community School District and wishes them continued success as they begin this next chapter together.
Have Positions to Fill? HYA Can Help.
HYA’s search services empower districts to recruit and build strong, student-focused leadership teams through a transparent, community-driven process, ensuring boards can make confident decisions while maintaining focus on what matters most: student success.
