KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — If all goes as planned, the Kalamazoo Public School system could have a new Superintendent this week.
The two finalists, Dr. Rita Raichoudhuri of Chicago Public Schools, and Dr. Efe Agbamu of St. Paul Public Schools will be in town for their final interviews Monday and Wednesday evenings.
Board President Patti Sholler-Barber says the public has had an impressive amount of input so far in the Superintendent search. “There were over 1100 pieces of information from the community to us, as well over 500 people attended our sessions,” Sholler-Barber explained at their board meeting on Thursday.
Dr. Raichoudhuri’s interview will take place Monday and Dr. Agbamu will be on Wednesday.
The open house for both days begins at 5 p.m. at the KPS Administration Building on Howard Street where the public will have the opportunity to submit questions and provide feedback. Then the interview will begin around 6:20 p.m.
More information on the entire selection process can be found on KPS’ website.
Six candidates were chosen last month and the board began narrowing down their options through video and in-person interviews. A video of all of the candidates can be found here.
Below is a short bio of the final two candidates:
- Dr. Agbamu is the Assistant Superintendent of Schools at St. Paul Public Schools in Minnesota. She has a background teaching in both K-12 and higher education, and over 16 years of administrative experience. Dr. Agbamu currently works to provide organizational oversight as Assistant Superintendent of Schools supervising 15 K-12 schools and holds a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership.
- Dr. Raichoudhuri is the Executive Director of Early College & Career Education at Chicago Public Schools in Illinois. She has a Doctorate Degree in Urban Education Leadership and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Dr. Raichoudhuri’s educational career has spanned 16 years including classroom teaching, building level principal and central office roles.
(John McNeill contributed to this report)
