OCTOBER 21, 2025 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kevin Christian, APR, CPRC, Director of Public Relations
352.671.7734 w ◊ 352.840.3265 c
[email protected]
COMMUNITY FOCUS GROUPS TO GATHER
PREFERENCES FOR NEW SUPERINTENDENT
MARION COUNTY - The School Board of Marion County has initiated a search for a successor superintendent of schools.
To help with this, the Board retained the services of Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA), a consulting firm specializing in recruiting executive-level educational leaders.
There are four phases to the HYA search process: engagement, recruitment, selection, and transition. The engagement phase includes designing and planning a process of engaging the Board and stakeholders through interviews, online surveys, and focus groups. Information from these interactions will assist the Board in developing a leadership profile and selection criterion matching the priorities of the community and meeting the unique needs of students served through Marion County Public Schools.
This disciplined, inclusive, and research-based approach will be designed to ensure all stakeholders have an opportunity to be part of the search process and will provide valuable feedback about the school district that will assist the search firm in better understanding the district in the broader marketplace.
Marion County residents are invited to participate in this community engagement process by attending either a focus group Zoom session, an in-person forum for feedback, or both:
- Nov. 4, 2025 – Community IN-PERSON Forum
6 p.m. – Browne Greaton Cole Auditorium at Bridgeway Academy (1614 E. Fort King St., Ocala, 34471)
- Nov. 6, 2025 – Community VIRTUAL Focus Group Meeting #1 at 6:30 p.m.
ZOOM link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89897438744?pwd=gRt41Qie5oSdiC8Eh08xhygGaCOzhu.1
Meeting ID: 898 9743 8744
Passcode: 125452
Meeting ID: 833 7204 7911
Passcode: 869179
Starting November 3, an online survey will also offer yet another opportunity to participate. More details will be released in the near future regarding this option.
Regardless of method, Marion County residents are encouraged to participate and offer input and involvement in the engagement phase of this process.
Additional information and progress on the search will be available at www.marionschools.net.
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