Aurora – The Aurora Public School District is offering the superintendent job to John Barry, a software company executive and retired two-star Air Force major general.
“My approach will focus on collaboration, consensus and coalition,” Barry said in a statement. “I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to accelerating the academic achievement of students.”
The seven-member board voted 5 to 2 in favor of Barry during a special meeting Tuesday at district headquarters.
“To be in charge of a $220 million operating budget, he has that experience,” said Aurora school board president Matthew Cook.
Barry is vice president for defense and security for SAP in Washington, D.C. The company helped independently in the investigation of the space shuttle Columbia disaster.
He earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor’s degree in political science and international affairs from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. In 2004, he participated in the Broad Academy for Superintendents.
Although Barry has been chosen, the district will still have to negotiate his contract. The minimum salary is $100,000, said Georgia Duran, district spokeswoman.
Staff writer Annette Espinoza can be reached at 303-820-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com.
