27J Schools stay in-house for new superintendent

Pierce sole remaining candidate to follow Fiedler

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

27J Schools didn’t have to go very far to find its new superintendent.

The school board tabbed Will Pierce as the sole finalist for the job that becomes vacant next year. The current superintendent, Chris Fiedler, announced his plans to retire when his contract expires.

Pierce has been in the district for 24 years. He’s been a dean, a prin- cipal, a director and the district’s chief academic officer. He also served a short stint as the boys’ basketball coach at Brighton High School. He’s the present deputy superintendent and oversees the district’s student achievement department

A press statement said Pierce redesigned the student achievement department and developed programs to support increased academic achievement in the district.

As an example, the district said he redesigned graduation requirements to meet state guidelines and to be sure that students show “competency toward a career and a future beyond graduation.”

The design of the district’s dashboard was one of Pierce’s projects. It helps show parents, staff and the community what sort of progress the district is making toward academic, social and emotional goals, the statement said. He also was in charge of the development and opening of two elementary schools, West Ridge and Pennock.

“We’re thrilled to name Will Pierce as our sole finalist for the superintendent’s position in 27J,” board President Greg Piotraschke said in the statement. “Being a local school board member who’s active in state and national education groups, I know the caliber of candidates you have to have to hire a successful superintendent. There is no better candidate than Will Pierce.”

Several districts lost their superintendents in the past few years, which led to outlays of money for searches. Piotraschke said 27J has a proven leader who’s established many of the hallmarks that earned the district five straight years of increased graduation rates.

The board plans to host a community engagement/meet and greet for finalist meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, in the district’s training room, 80 S. Eighth Ave. The board is expected to make its hiring decision during its March 8 regular business meeting.