Superintendent Finalist Andy Pattee Emphasizes Collaboration, Technology

Update 8:57 p.m.:

Being open and collaborative is key to successful leadership, said Charles City and Riceville Superintendent Andy Pattee, who spoke with community members Monday as a finalist for the Cedar Falls superintendent position.

"You have to spend time in the course of the first month or two months talking with people," he said.

Pattee was also a finalist for superintendent a year ago, when the district hired Mike Wells. After deciding not to renew Wells' contract, the Cedar Falls School Board is again interviewing candidates this week.

Pattee said he decided to apply again because he likes the people and opportunities of Cedar Falls.

"I came back, threw my hat back in the ring, so to speak, because I thought this was such a tremendous school district," he said.

Among his achievements in Charles City, he listed upgrading the district's technology infrastructure and instituting a 1 to 1 policy - every high school student now has access to a MacBook Pro.

He also mentioned leading a process to transition to having the district's middle school and high school on the same campus. Charles City faced the opposite problem from Cedar Falls: the student body was dropping.

"It was a very difficult process, a very long process," he said.

Originally from Humboldt, Pattee has been Charles City superintendent since 2008 and Riceville superintendent since 2011. He previously was a teacher and principal in Oskaloosa. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and got his doctorate from Drake University. He was recently appointed to the state's Educational Board of Examiners.

Three other candidates will interview for the superintendent job this week. The public will be able to meet them during receptions at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the James L. Robinson Administration Center, 1002 West First St., in conference room B.

The other candidates are:

Dr. Thomas Van Soelen, Associate Superintendent, City Schools of Decatur, Decatur, Georgia (Reception 4:45 p.m. Tuesday)

·         Dr. Douglas G. Van Zyl, Superintendent, Fort Dodge Community School District, Fort Dodge, Iowa (Reception 4:45 p.m. Wednesday)

·         Dr. Rich Powers, High School Principal, Cedar Falls Community School District, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Reception 4:45 p.m. Thursday)

Original story:

The public will be able to meet Andy Pattee, the first of four finalists for the position of Cedar Falls superintendent, at a reception this afternoon.

The reception is from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. at the James L. Robinson Administration Center, 1002 West First St., in conference room B. Pattee will also be interviewed by the Cedar Falls School Board today.

The Cedar Falls School District is looking for a new superintendent after the board decided not to renew first-year superintendent Mike Wells' contract.

Pattee is currently superintendent of the Charles City Community School District and the Riceville Community School District. He was also a finalist for the Cedar Falls superintendent position a year ago when Wells was hired.

Originally from Humboldt, Pattee has been Charles City superintendent since 2008 and Riceville superintendent since 2011. He previously was a teacher and principal in Oskaloosa. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and got his doctorate from Drake University.

The other candidates are:

·         Dr. Thomas Van Soelen, Associate Superintendent, City Schools of Decatur, Decatur, Georgia (Reception 4:45 p.m. Tuesday)

·         Dr. Douglas G. Van Zyl, Superintendent, Fort Dodge Community School District, Fort Dodge, Iowa (Reception 4:45 p.m. Wednesday)

·         Dr. Rich Powers, High School Principal, Cedar Falls Community School District, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Reception 4:45 p.m. Thursday)

The board worked with search firm McPherson & Jacobson, whose consultants reviewed and screened candidates. On Thursday, consultants presented the applicants to the board of education and provided them detailed background information on each applicant. 

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