Cherry Creek deputy superintendent Mary Chesley has emerged as the sole finalist for the job being vacated by longtime leader Monte Moses, according to a release by the school district Tuesday.
The school board on Monday announced Chesley was the finalist after interviewing her last week.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the interview process with Mary Chesley,” board member Jennifer Churchfield said in a release. “When evaluating the superintendent position description, Ms. Chesley clearly exceeds the criteria for this job.”
Chesley joined Cherry Creek School District in 1989 as a teacher at Creekside Elementary School.
In 1995, she was hired as principal at High Plains Elementary School. She became executive director for elementary education in 1999, assistant superintendent in 2004, and was appointed deputy superintendent in 2007.
Her responsibilities have included supervision of the district’s 39 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, six high schools, as well as alternative programs in the district.
“Ms. Chesley has demonstrated a keen understanding of the district budget, and has a broad picture of human resources in general, and knows and appreciates what our teachers and staff members do every day,” board treasurer Jim O’Brien said.
“During the past five years, Ms. Chesley has been involved in the final hiring decisions of the majority of the district’s principals and assistant principals in their respective current positions.”
Moses in March announced he would step down as superintendent of the suburban Denver school district by June 2009 or sooner if the school board finds a replacement.
Under Moses’ stewardship, the high-performing district grew to nearly 50,000 students and adds 1,000 pupils a year. Moses is the highest paid superintendent in the state, making $337,392 a year.
The board made the decision to make Chesley the finalist on Friday in executive session. Under state law, the board must wait two weeks to offer the job to the finalist, according to Tustin Amole, district spokeswoman.
“You could logically conclude that time would be up a week from Friday,” she said.
Board members in a press release offered praise for Chesley.
“During the past five years, Ms. Chesley has been involved in the final hiring decisions of the majority of the district’s principals and assistant principals in their respective current positions.”
The board also lauded Chesley’s leadership skills.
“To me a leader is someone who has a vision, can communicate that vision to the district, can empower the group to attain it and then celebrates the success,” board member Claudine McDonald said. “This is what I see in Mary.”
“Ms. Chesley understands the importance of emphasizing school safety so that students are not only physically safe, but feel safe so they can concentrate on learning,” board member Randy Perlis said. “I trust her to take care of my own children’s safety, and the safety of all 50,000 Cherry Creek students.”
Board President Aagje Barber summed up the board’s consensus in choosing Chesley as the final candidate.
“Ms. Mary Chesley is highly qualified and fully prepared to assume the position of the Superintendent for the Cherry Creek School District,” Barber said. “She is able to build on the current momentum towards our twin goals of excellence and equity and college preparedness for all students. She has clearly demonstrated that she can inspire confidence in her leadership among staff members and the community.”
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
