Superintendent Search

Grand Rapids Public Schools, the largest and most diverse school district in West Michigan, is searching for its next leader. Our new superintendent will guide the district through the next chapter of our journey, building on recent progress while continuing to strengthen academic outcomes and expand opportunities for every scholar.

Superintendent Candidate Profile

The Grand Rapids Board of Education has created a desired candidate profile for the next superintendent of GRPS, using feedback provided by more than 1,700 scholars, families, staff, and community members over the past two months.

Throughout August and September, GRPS hosted 20 focus groups, four in-person town halls, one virtual town hall, and an online survey to gather feedback from our community on the qualities that are most important in our next superintendent.

The Board of Education met on September 21 to review the feedback and select a candidate profile. The qualities selected based on community feedback are:

• Listens to understand, builds consensus, and acts decisively.
• Possesses strong communication and leadership skills, knowledge, and sensitivity required to respond to the opportunities and challenges presented by a diverse student body and community.
• The ability to work effectively with community partners and policymakers.
• Has a strong moral compass that is rooted in justice and equality.
• Has experience recruiting and maintaining exceptional staff for the district and schools.
• Experience with effective management that will benefit the long-term financial health of the district.
• Is strongly committed to a scholar centered philosophy in all decisions, in order to promote a healthy and safe learning environment.
• Commitment to both academic and extracurricular programs.
• Experience leading diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and commitment  to working with all genders, races, and socio-economic group.
• Promotes a positive and professional environment that includes mutual trust and respect among faculty, staff, administrators and Board.
• Demonstrates a deep understanding of special education that meets the individualized needs of each student.
• Has classroom experience in a K-12 setting.

Learn more about the development of the candidate profile

Key Upcoming Dates

October 4, 2026
Application deadline

October 24, 2026
Virtual screening of candidates conducted by Ray & Associates

October 26, 2026                 
Superintendent finalists announced

October 28, 2026
Superintendent finalists tour the district and meet with stakeholders. The Board of Education conducts final interviews and selects the next superintendent