February 27, 2009

Thomas Williams To Serve As District’s New Superintendent

by Murray Farish

After a year-long national search, the Kirkwood School Board Wednesday announced the hiring of Thomas Williams of Muscatine, Iowa, as the Kirkwood School District’s new superintendent.

Williams, who starts his job in Kirkwood on July 1, takes over for David Damerall, who is retiring after 15 years with the district.

Williams has spent his whole career in Iowa and is currently serving as superintendent of the 5,500-student Muscatine Community School District. He started his educational career as a high school social studies teacher in 1980, and has been a superintendent at five other Iowa school districts.

Williams and his wife Chris have two children in college at the University of Iowa, and two others who will enroll in Kirkwood Schools in the fall. He said he and his family would have only left Iowa for a place like Kirkwood.

“Kirkwood has everything that we were looking for if we were going to make a move,” Williams said. “The challenge of being superintendent in a great community and a prestigious district like this is exciting, and it was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up.”

Williams holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa, and master’s and doctoral degrees and master’s and doctoral degrees from Iowa State University. He was named Iowa State Superintendent of the Year in 2000-2001, and is very active in the Muscatine community, serving on several local boards and foundations.

Ray and Associates, Kirkwood’s executive search firm for the superintendent hire, received 67 completed applications from educators in 39 states. Six applicants were selected as semifinalists and were interviewed by the board of education. The board conducted a site visit at the Muscatine Community School District before making its decision to appoint Williams.

“The Kirkwood Board of Education is pleased that we were able to attract and hire a successful superintendent with 28 years of educational leadership experience,” said Angie Bay, president of the Kirkwood School Board.

“We are confident that he will maintain and strengthen the tradition of excellence Dr. Damerall established for the district 15 years ago, and we look forward to welcoming Dr. Williams and his family to the Kirkwood School District community,” she continued.