Superintendent - Cherry Creek, CO

Position Description for Cherry Creek Schools, Arapahoe County, Colorado

The Cherry Creek School District Board of Education in Arapahoe County, Colorado
, is seeking a highly qualified Superintendent
.

McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C., Executive Recruitment and Development, has been engaged as the consultant in a search for outstanding candidates. They will assist the governing board in identifying and screening the candidates.

Enrollment: 52,000

Location:

Denver-metro area:
Cities of Centennial, Aurora, Cherry Hills Village, Greenwood Village, Foxfield, Glendale, and Englewood as well as areas of unincorporated Arapahoe County, Colorado.

The candidate must be a visible, high-integrity, equity-focused, and student-centered leader who models transparency and builds trust across many constituencies, leads strategy, manages complex operations, and brings people together to execute a clear vision for improved student outcomes.

The Board of Education has identified the following core leadership qualities and priorities as essential criteria for success:

• Integrity, honesty, and a strong moral compass.
• Transparency and accountability as expected norms.
• Courage to make difficult decisions while staying student-centered.

• Commitment to equity, multiculturalism, and closing achievement gaps.
• Unwavering focus on students as the driver of all decisions.
• Clear instructional vision tied to demonstrated student growth and achievement.

• Ability to articulate and execute a forward-looking vision in a changing education landscape.
• Demonstrated success driving measurable student achievement.
• Committed to action and ability to lead meaningful change.
• Capacity to lead strategic plans while adapting to funding constraints and enrollment shifts.

• Clear, effective communicator internally and externally.
• Ability to serve as a visible ambassador for the district.
• Public speaking, community engagement, and responsiveness.

• Strong engagement with diverse stakeholders.
• Emphasis on listening and fostering shared ownership.
• Skilled in board relations and political awareness without being political.

• Ability to build, develop, and retain a high-functioning leadership team.
• Prioritizes staff morale, culture, and motivation.
• Success managing complex systems and multiple constituencies simultaneously.
• Strong financial stewardship, budgeting, and taxpayer accountability.

Compensation: $295,000 - $335,000 subject to negotiation,

• comprehensive benefits package.

Closing date for applications:
October 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. central time)

Preliminary Interviews:
December 8-9, 2026

Selection of Finalist:
January 11, 2027

Selection of new Superintendent:
To Be Determined

Cherry Creek School District 5 is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The district does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin , family composition; parental status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, creed, or disability and, when needed, will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees. Anyone requesting reasonable accommodation in the application or recruitment process please contact McPherson & Jacobson at the address/phone/email above.