The Forest Hills Public Schools Board of Education moved closer to selecting a new Superintendent of Schools. The board held first-round interviews with five candidates on March 4-6. The five candidates included:
- Benjamin Kirby, Superintendent, Lake Orion Community Schools
- Allen Cumings, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Greenville Public Schools
- Phillip (Ric) Seager, Superintendent, Watervliet Public Schools
- Jennifer Fee, Superintendent, St. Joseph Public Schools
- Gary Kinzer, Superintendent, Mason Public Schools
From these candidates, the board unanimously voted to extend second interviews to Benjamin Kirby and Dr. Gary Kinzer.
The second and final round of interviews will be held on Tuesday, March 19, at the Forest Hills Public Schools Fine Arts Center, 600 Forest Hill Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546.
Benjamin Kirby (Resume PDF) will interview at 5:00 p.m., and Dr. Gary Kinzer (Resume PDF) will interview at 6:30 p.m.
The day will include opportunities for the candidates to interact with school staff and students, tour portions of the district, and visit educational spaces and learning environments. There will be an open house for community members and FHPS staff at the Fine Arts Center to meet and interact with the candidates between 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19. The public is encouraged to attend the meet-and-greet event and the final interviews that evening.
“We were fortunate to have received applications from a highly talented group of individuals, each bringing valuable expertise and experience to the table,” said Dr. Kristen Fauson, FHPS Board President. “After careful consideration, we are thrilled to highlight two exceptional candidates who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership qualities and a deep commitment to advancing our district’s educational mission and creating a vision for the future. We look forward to further engaging with these candidates on March 19 as we find the ideal leader who will continue to elevate the Forest Hills Public School District to new heights of excellence.”
After the conclusion of the interviews, it is anticipated the board will decide on the candidate of choice to lead the district and enter contract negotiations. The intent is to have the new superintendent begin on July 1, 2024.
