Resources

About OSBA's Executive Search Services


Selecting the chief executive officer is your most important job as a board member.

OSBA customizes every search to meet the needs of the board and the community. OSBA staff and consultants work alongside your board to facilitate the process, offer advice and swiftly and professionally handle the many details of this critical task.

You, as the board, are the client - and you are in charge.

Since 1984, OSBA has helped boards hire nearly 500 executives for Oregon school districts, education service districts, community colleges and other agencies. Our executive search service is the most comprehensive, experienced and successful in Oregon. We help your board hire not just a person, but the right person.

Click to view this video  Learn more about how OSBA can help you locate and hire your new chief executive in this flash presentation. (15 min.)  

 We help you:

Establish the search timeline

  • We plan so your opening attracts the largest possible pool of candidates.

Determine selection criteria

  • We help you accurately reflect your organization and community priorities.
  • We facilitate meetings with your board, staff and community members to determine desired candidate qualifications.
  • We provide the board with a compilation of all desired qualities and qualifications.

Advertise the vacancy and assist with candidate recruitment

  • We promptly distribute a notice of vacancy to over 2,500 candidates and educational organizations throughout the United States.
  • We post the vacancy in several state and national online publications.
  • We are a member of the National Affiliation of Superintendent Searchers (NASS), an association of state school board association superintendent searchers who assist us in advertising your vacancy and recruiting top-quality candidates nationwide.
  • We design a high-quality, full-color brochure and application materials.
  • We post the vacancy and brochure on our nationally-recognized Web site.
  • We provide recruitment and application materials to all interested applicants.
  • We handle calls and correspondence.
  • We maintain application files -- Powered by  This is an image of edzapp_logo_small

Screen applications

  • We train and work with the board, designated committee or both.
    OR, for an additional fee:
  • We screen the applications and provide a list of qualified candidates for the board to consider interviewing.

Select the finalist

  • We help the board develop the interview process.
  • We arrange interviews.
  • We notify candidates of their status.

Check references

  • We train board members to conduct in-depth phone reference checks and site visits.
    OR, for an additional fee:
  • We will conduct in-depth reference checks.

Establish professional relationships

  • We provide a written analysis of your current executive's contract language. An OSBA attorney presents to the board in person to discuss in detail.
  • We conduct a workshop with the board and new executive on roles and responsibilities.
  • We meet with the new executive to review policy and state law.

And, we offer:

Team coaching
(Additional cost.)

Because the first year is so critical for setting the tone of professional relationships, OSBA offers year-long team coaching to help your new team operate effectively. OSBA will meet with you and your new executive each month to cover:

  • Governance
  • Expectations
  • Goal setting
  • Operating agreements
  • Performance evaluation
  • Public meetings and executive sessions
  • Effective communications

Help finding an interim :

  • If it's too late in the year to conduct a full search, OSBA can help boards find an interim executive. We will discuss the process with the board and furnish a list of potential interim candidates.

What past clients have to say:

"I know that I speak for the entire school board when I say that we were extremely happy with the service that we received from OSBA… they led us through the process that enabled us to find a truly exceptional person to be our next superintendent."
Mark Johnson, Hood River School Board Chair

"The range and quality of the service delivery was superior. Their professional services combined with a caring style made our search robust and effective. Your organization would be fortunate to have them provide the same service."
Theresa Delaney Davis, Reynolds School Board Chair

 Check out who we've helped in the past:  2010-11 | 2009-10 | 2008-09 | 2007-08 | 2006-07 | 2005-06

2011-12 Searches:

Current vacancies

For more information, please contact  Jessica Knieling.

Price information

Contact OSBA Staff  for information on pricing.