Geneva schools superintendent 1 of 3 finalists for top post in Dubuque, Iowa

GENEVA – Geneva District 304 Superintendent Kent Mutchler is one of three finalists vying to become the new superintendent of Dubuque Community School District in Dubuque, Iowa, according to a posting on the district’s Facebook page.

According to the post, Mutchler’s interview is scheduled for Monday.

Each finalist will meet with interview teams comprised of district staff, parents and community partners, concluding with an interview with the school board, the post stated.

The Dubuque Community School District has nearly 1,800 staff, more than 10,500 students in 18 schools and an Alternative Learning Center, according to its website, dbqschools.org.

Mutchler described the process as, “You are interviewing the board and school district there, as well as them interviewing you.”

The Dubuque Community School District has nearly 1,800 staff, more than 10,500 students in 18 schools and an Alternative Learning Center, according to its website, dbqschools.org.

“I wanted to see if I can make as big a difference educationally as I could – so I threw my hat into the ring,” Mutchler said. “I have a contract through next year. That’s perfectly fine, but like other professionals, you want to explore other opportunities.”

Mutchler said if he is chosen for the Dubuque position, he would give notice to district officials that he would be leaving this year.

According to the posting, the district received 16 applications, culled it down to seven semifinalists and then three finalists.

The current superintendent, Stan Rheingans, is leaving the district at the end of the school year to become chief administrator of Keystone Area Education Agency.

The potential departure of Mutchler before the end of his contract on June 30, 2023, would be one more challenge officials would have to address, as two board members resigned this month – president Taylor Egan and Alicia Saxton.

If Mutchler is chosen for the Dubuque post, he would be returning to the state where he served as superintendent previously at two other districts there: Ankeny Community Schools from 2002 to 2006 in Ankeny and Oelwein Community Schools from 1998 to 2002 in Spencer, Iowa.

He also served as assistant superintendent from 1993 to 1998 at Spencer Community School District in Spencer; and as a school principal at Guthrie Center Community High School in Guthrie Center, Iowa, according to the biography posted on the Dubuque Facebook page.

Mutchler was recently named one of 22 superintendents in the nation to complete an 18-month program for the National Superintendent Certification Program, administered by the School Superintendents Association.

“It’s been a lot of work to get National Superintendent Certification,” Mutchler said. “It will open opportunities for me.”

As he stated in his retirement letter to the board, Mutchler said he would be looking for other educational leadership opportunities.

Mutchler was formally recognized at AASA’s National Conference on Education, which was held last week in Nashville, Tenn.

“AASA’s National Superintendent Certification Program is a valuable program for professional growth and recognition aimed at recognizing excellence and helping superintendents to navigate the many challenges currently facing our schools,” Mutchler stated in a news release about his certification achievement.

The program was “well worth the time and effort to accomplish this goal,” according to Mutchler’s statement. “It helped to keep me focused on serving students and provided me with a host of innovative ideas and a network of peers for working toward the success of all students educationally.”