Oconomowoc School Board chooses three finalists for superintendent position

Alec Johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

February 8, 2022 at 1:31 PM·2 min read

The Oconomowoc Area School District is a step closer to finding its next superintendent.

The school board interviewed six semi-finalist candidates recently and chose three finalists from that group, according to a news release from the Oconomowoc Area School District.

The three finalists are Jeridon Clark, who is currently the Mequon-Thiensville School District's assistant superintendent of educational services; Joe Koch, the Waukesha School District's deputy superintendent, and Mike Sereno, the Elmbrook School District's assistant superintendent of teaching and learning.

Each candidate is scheduled to participate in additional interviews and school visits, including a panel interview with various Oconomowoc Area School District staff, administrators and community members.

According to the timeline posted on the district's website, interviews are scheduled to take place Feb. 8-10, with the board potentially making a final selection Feb. 11.

Clark's past experience includes roles as the Mequon-Thiensville School District's executive director of organizational alignment and digital learning, and as an assistant principal and athletic director at New Berlin West Middle/High School. He started his educational career as a math and computer science teacher at Homestead High School, which is part of the Mequon-Thiensville School District.

Mequon-Thiensville School District Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Jeridon Clark is one of three finalists for the Oconomowoc Area School District superintendent position.

Koch has been in education for 20 years, and includes experience as a special education teacher, assistant principal and director of pupil services.

Waukesha School District deputy superintendent Joe Koch is one of three finalists for the Oconomowoc Area School District superintendent search.

Sereno's past experience includes having served in the Elmbrook School District in a variety of leadership roles over the past 19 years, including his current position. He was an educator in both the Kettle Moraine and Waukesha school districts before joining Elmbrook.

Elmbrook School District Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Mike Sereno is one of three finalists for the Oconomowoc Area School District superintendent position.

The Oconomowoc Area School District is currently being led by Kristen Taylor. She was named in June as interim superintendent to replace Superintendent Roger Rindo, who left to take the Reedsburg School District's superintendent position. Taylor said she would return to her position as the Oconomowoc Area School District's director of human resources once a permanent superintendent is found.

The district began advertising for the position in November.

District officials met in December with staff members, parents, community leaders and community members for feedback on characteristics they wanted in the next superintendent. The district also surveyed staff, students, parents and community members in December.

The school board enlisted search firm, McPherson & Jacobson, to process that feedback and use it to formulate interview questions for the candidates.

Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12.

More News: The Oasis Project to expand tutoring services for underserved children to all Oconomowoc Area School District elementary schools

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Oconomowoc superintendent position down to three finalists

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