Superintendent – Carson, IA
Job Description
The Riverside Community School District is seeking a superintendent to begin on July 1, 2026. Located in southwest Iowa, Riverside CSD is 25 miles from Omaha and approximately 100 miles from Des Moines. Our rural school district was formed in 1993, when area schools combined to become Riverside. The area schools represent the towns of Carson, Macedonia and Oakland and surrounding countryside along the Nishnabotna River. Our communities work together to build a positive culture that stretches into our classrooms and out on the playing fields and throughout the fine arts, STEM and other programs.
The District has an annual operating budget of approximately $10.5 million and provides educational opportunities in three facilities:
- Oakland Elementary Grades PK-2)
- Carson Elementary (Grades 3-5)
- Riverside Middle/High School (Grades 6-12)
Mission:
“Riverside Community School District: INSPIRE – UNIFY – ACHIEVE”
For more information, visit the Riverside CSD website.
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s degree
- Holds Iowa superintendent licensure (or plans to obtain licensure)
- Holds an evaluator approval certification (or plans to obtain licensure)
- 3 years of administrative leadership experience
- Experience working closely with a school district governing board
- Successful completion of state and federal criminal background checks & abuse registry clearances
Preferred Qualifications:
- Willingness to reside and be engaged in the district and communities
- Strong school finance acumen and stewardship
- Experience with facilities management
- Excellent communication skills with a broad range of stakeholders
Most valued leadership qualities, as identified by a recent stakeholder survey:
- Student-Focused: Prioritizes a student-centered environment with high expectations for learning and growth
- Advocacy: Advocates for public education and for the best learning experience for students
- Communication: Communicates effectively with students, staff, families, and the community.
- Trust: Treats all staff, students, families, and community members fairly, while fostering trust and positive morale
- Composed: Even-tempered, accommodating, patient, humble, and tactful especially in difficult situations.
- Inclusive and Welcoming: Good-natured, approachable, and quick to help others
- Integrity: Acts with honesty and holds strong professional values
- Critical Thinker: Analyzes complex issues and uses logic to address issues
- Leadership: Demonstrates strong collaborative and visionary leadership skills
Anticipated Salary and Benefits:
The Riverside CSD School Board is considering a base salary range from $155,000 to $170,000. Actual salary will be commensurate with the new Superintendent’s experience and education.
Include the following in your application:
- Cover letter stating interest and unique qualifications for the position
- Save the name “Riverside CSD” in the document title.
- Full resume/vitae
- Three current letters of recommendation
- Copy of Superintendent license (regardless of state) or evidence of eligibility for a Superintendent license
- Contact information for three additional references different than the reference letters
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Search Timeline – All application materials are due by April 2, 2026. |
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| March 30, 2026 | District Candidate Profile Report is released with stakeholder input |
| April 2, 2026 | Applications are due |
| April 13th | Slate of candidates are presented to the Board |
| April 15th and 16th | Board conducts first-round interviews |
| April 16th | Finalists are announced to the public. |
| April 21st and 22nd | Finalists interview with stakeholders & the Board in the District |
| April 23rd | Superintendent’s hiring is approved and announced |
| July 1, 2026 | Superintendent contract formally begins |
The candidates will remain confidential to the public until the finalist stage.
More Information:
For any questions regarding the Riverside CSD Superintendent search, contact an HYA associate or contributor listed below. Do not contact Riverside CSD School Board members or District employees.
Paul Tedesco, HYA Associate Email: paultedesco@hyasearch.com
Bob Olson, HYA Contributor Email: robertolson@hyasearch.com
Gary DeLacy, HYA Contributor Email: garydelacy@hyasearch.com
How to apply for this job?
- Register for an account on the HYA website. Or, log in to the HYA website if you already have an account created. Click the Login/Register button at the top of the page to get started.
- After logging in, click the Apply Now button at the top of this page.
- You will be redirected to the Frontline Education website. This website is where you will submit your application. This website also will require its own unique login and password.
