Superintendent From Fort Dodge to Interview, Meet Public in Cedar Falls Today

Douglas Van Zyl, the third of four finalists for the position of Cedar Falls superintendent, will meet with the public 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. Van Zyl 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.

According to The Messenger, a newspaper in Fort Dodge, Van Zyl studied elementary and physical education at Northwestern College in Orange City before getting his master's degree in educational administration from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. He has a doctorate from the University of Missouri.

Van Zyl became the Fort Dodge superintendent in 2010. He previously served as superintendent in Harrisonville Community Schools and was a teacher and assistant principal in Texas and an assistant principal in Missouri before that.

The first candidate, Charles City and Riceville Superintendent . On Tuesday, Decatur City Schools Associate Superintendent Thomas Van Zyl interviewed. Tomorrow will feature the final candidate, Cedar Falls High School Principal Rich Powers.

The candidates are:

• Dr. Andy Pattee, Superintendent, Charles City Community School District, Charles City, Iowa (Reception 4:45 p.m. Monday)
  
• 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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