Board FAQ

Finding the right Superintendent for your school and community is one of the most important tasks your Board of Education will ever undertake. The right Superintendent provides vital leadership to your school’s faculty and staff, develops high expectations for success for all students, and maintains your school at the heart of your rural community.  

 But, finding the right Superintendent is not an easy task.  Your Board must clearly define the district’s needs, find and attract good candidates, screen applicants carefully, interview effectively, and select with sound judgment and engage staff and community to build support for the new leader as he or she transitions to your district. 

 Fortunately, you can have a partner at your side with more than 40 years of serving the needs of Nebraska’s rural community schools -- NRCSA.

 We think we can offer our members and other rural community schools unparalleled assistance in selecting the right Superintendent.   Here are some reasons why:

• Since 1980, NRCSA has represented Nebraska’s rural community schools.  We understand rural schools, the Boards and Superintendents that lead them, and the rural communities they serve.
• NRCSA’s focus is solely on rural schools and communities.  They are the reason we exist and we are dedicated as an organization to serving them as effectively as possible.
• NRCSA understands rural school leadership from our members’ perspective as Board members and Superintendents.  Our consultants will come to you from a background as rural community school Superintendents.   They know what it takes to be an educational leader in a Nebraska community.
• NRCSA respects rural schools and communities – you’re more than just a source of dues or fees to us.  You are our lifeblood. 

 NRCSA will provide the services of two Superintendent Search consultants, both experienced rural school Superintendents and community leaders. 

Jay Bellar - Jay spent 35 years as a teacher, coach, and administrator, including 20 years as superintendent at Battle Creek Public Schools. He was the Nebraska Superintendent of the Year by NASA in 2015 and the NRCSA Superintendent of the Year in 2018. For the next five years Jay continued his career as the Executive Director of the Nebraska Schools Activities Association.

Dan Bird - Dan spent 35 years in education as a teacher, coach and school administrator, including 21 years as Superintendent at Burwell Public Schools,  a long-time NRCSA member.  Dan has devoted his career to making a difference in his student’s lives.

Dr. Jon Cerny - Jon served as Superintendent at Bancroft-Rosalie Community

Schools for 33 years. He was named 2019 Outstanding Career and Technical Administrator of the Year by the Association for Career and Technical Education of Nebraska and in 2026 was inducted into the Education Quest Hall of Fame.

In 2015, Dr. Cerny received the Terrell Bell Award from the United States Department of Education for outstanding leadership. In 2013 he received the Outstanding Superintendent Award from the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association.

Dr. Cerny is past President and Executive Board member of the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Assoc and served as a Board Member on the Nebraska School Activities Association for 7 years.

He is currently an adjunct professor at Wayne State College teaching in the specialist’s program.

Dr. Curtis Cogswell -  Curtis spent 36 years in education as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, and superintendent. He served as superintendent of McCool Junction Public Schools and Dorchester Public Schools. Curt had the honor of serving as NRCSA President and serve on the NRCSA Legislative Committee. He was also an Assistant Professor at Wayne State College working in the Education Leadership Department.

Eugene “Mo” Hanks -  Mo spent 31 years in education as a teacher, coach, activities director, principal, and superintendent. During his thirteen-year tenure as the Secondary Principal of Kimball Public Schools Mo was selected as the 2014 Nebraska High School Principal of the Year and received the 2019 Secondary Principal Distinguished Service Award. He finished his career as the Superintendent of Crawford Public Schools where he also served on the NRCSA Executive Committee and as the Secretary for NSAA District VI.

Jim Havelka - Jim spent 27 years as a Superintendent in NRCSA schools, including Rising City, Howells, Dodge, and North Bend. Since retiring, he’s led the Nebraska Teacher and Principal Model Evaluation Project and served as an educational consultant.  He’s a past president of NRCSA and its 2009 Superintendent of the Year. 

Fred Helmink - Fred spent 36 years as a teacher, coach, and administrator in a number of Nebraska schools including Norris, Geneva, Polk, Gothenburg, Beatrice, and his final 13 as the Fairbury superintendent.  He is a past president of the NRCSA organization and was also served as chair of the NRCSA legislative committee.

Holly Herzberg - Holly spent 33 years as a teacher, coach, and administrator, including 20 years as Superintendent at Hampton Public School, a long-time NRCSA member.  She has been a member of the Commissioner of Education’s Advisory Council, past President of the Nebraska Association of Supervision and Curriculum, and led multiple Rule 10 continuous school improvement external team visits across the state.

Jeff Messersmith - Jeff is a dedicated education professional with 35 years of experience as a coach, teacher, administrator, and college student teacher supervisor. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served six years, he has remained committed to developing future generations, as both his son and daughter chose careers in education. He and his wife Teresa recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and are the proud grandparents of eight grandchildren. In his personal time, Jeff enjoys family gatherings, golfing, and the outdoors. 

Caroline Winchester Dr. Caroline Winchester served 24 years as a Superintendent, retiring as the leader of Chadron Public Schools.  Among her career highlights are being named Nebraska Superintendent of Year by NASA and receiving the 2019 Nebraska Excellence in Education Award from Cognia.  She has been a member of the Commissioner of Education’s Advisory Council, the Network Nebraska Advisory Board, and the NRCSA Executive Committee.

 A NRCSA Superintendent Search involves five phases: 

Planning Phase – This phase includes developing a comprehensive plan and timeline for the search, creating a school district and ideal candidate profile, engaging staff and community members in the search process if the Board desires, providing information on comparable compensation, and developing the vacancy notice.

 Recruiting/Screening Phase – This phase include advertising and widely distributing the vacancy notice, actively seeking out candidates that meet the district’s profile, compiling and analyzing applicant data and conducting initial reference checks.

 Finalist Selection Phase – This phase includes meeting with the Board to review all applicant files, recommending potential finalists, arranging for background checks on finalists, and sharing model Superintendent contracts with the Board.

 Interview Phase – This phase involves assisting the Board in establishing interview and candidate visitation procedures, scheduling finalists’ interviews, assisting the Board and interview committees in developing appropriate questions, and working with the Board to establish a means to evaluate each candidate. 

Transition Phase – Once a new Superintendent is hired, NRCSA will work with the Superintendent and Board President to plan desired transition services and to assist the new Superintendent in creating initial performance goals.  NRCSA also offers some optional transition services such as facilitating a Superintendent-Board Planning Workshop.

 As part of its basic services, NRCSA’s consultants will meet with the new Superintendent and Board President to discuss desired transition services.  It will also assist the new Superintendent in creating initial performance goals.  These meetings may take place via distance technology. 

Optional transition services, such as a Superintendent-Board Planning Workshop, are customized to the district’s needs and a fee for such services can be negotiated with NRCSA’s Executive Director.  These additional services are available to NRCSA members only.

Yes.  NRCSA will work with your Board to make the best selection possible and will stand behind its process. If the new Superintendent resigns because of expressed dissatisfaction with the position or if the new Superintendent is asked by the Board to resign, or if the Board implements non-renewal procedures within the first two years of employment, NRCSA will conduct a new search for reimbursable expenses only. 

Declining to participate in the follow-up transition meeting will void the warranty.

Contact the NRCSA Executive Director, Paul Sheffield, at the address below: 

Paul Sheffield, Executive Director,

Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association

440 S. 13TH St., Suite B

Lincoln, NE 68508

(402) 759-1609

superintendentsearch@nrcsa.net (Please contact Paul at this address for items related to the search service. You can use psheffield@nrcsa.net for other NRCSA business).