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EXECUTIVE SEARCH SERVICES

NOTICE OF VACANCY OPPORTUNITY www.azsa.org

Mayer Unified School District #43

Mayer, Arizona

The Governing Board of the Mayer Unified School District announces a search for a new District Superintendent. Qualified applicants are invited to apply for this exceptional opportunity.

Lead a close-knit rural district while serving as both District Superintendent and Jr/Sr High School Principal - where relationships matter, leadership is hands-on, and community pride runs deep.

Mayer Unified School District #43 (MUSD) is a small, rural public school district located in Yavapai County, Arizona, along the Highway 69 corridor between Interstate 17 and Prescott. The district serves the communities of Mayer, Cordes Lakes, Spring Valley, Poland Junction, and portions of Black Canyon City.

MUSD serves 469 students in Preschool through Grade 12 across two campuses: Mayer Elementary School (PK–6): 265 students

Mayer Jr/Sr High School (Grades 7–12): 204 students

The district operates on a four-day school week (Monday–Thursday), supporting operational efficiency, staff recruitment and retention, and work-life balance while maintaining strong academic and student support programs.

Mayer Unified School District is governed by an elected Governing Board committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and student-centered decision-making. The district values:

• Collaborative leadership
• Open, professional communication
• Continuous improvement and professional growth
• Positive labor relations
• Strong community trust and involvement
• The district’s size allows the superintendent to maintain a highly visible, personal, and meaningful presence with students, staff, families, and community members.

Governing Board

Susan Spigelmire, President Vivian Perry

Michele McCann

Barbara vonMoses

Mike King

Our Students

MUSD serves approx. 475 students in Pre-K through 12th grade.

Demographically our student population is:

• White: 63%
• Hispanic: 30%
• Native American: 3%
• Other: 4%
• Students per Teacher: 14.5

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS FEBRUARY 12, 2026

District Operational Information

Maintenance &OperationsBudget: $4,997,372

Unrestricted Capital Budget: $457,253

Primary/Secondary Tax Rates: 3.4104/0.3683

Average Salary of all Teachers: $45,362*

*excludes Prop. 301 or extra duty stipends

Educational Programs & Student

Opportunities

Despite its small size, Mayer Unified offers a wide range of academic, extracurricular, and career-focused opportunities designed to meet the needs of all learners.

Academic & Instructional Programs

• Standards-aligned core curriculum
• Personalized learning supported by small class sizes
• Exceptional Student Services, including Special Education and English Language Learner (ELL) programs
• District K–8 Emotional Disability Program (EDP) providing structured, individualized support for students with emotional disabilities, overseen by the District Special Education Director
• Early childhood and preschool programming

Secondary & Career Pathways

• Career and Technical Education (CTE) through Mountain Institute JTED Five on-campus CTE programs at Mayer Jr/Sr High School: Agriculture
• Welding
• CNC
• Business
• Programming
• Dual enrollment and concurrent college credit opportunities with Yavapai College
• College course offerings through partnerships with Arizona State University
• Student organizations including FFA, FBLA, and SkillsUSA

Athletics & Activities

• Junior high and high school athletic programs
• Athletic Director at Mayer Jr/Sr High School, responsible for athletic program oversight, scheduling, and coordination with the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA)
• Clubs and leadership activities promoting student engagement and school pride

Community Profile:

Mayer and its surrounding communities are closely

connected and deeply invested in their schools. Residents view the district as the heart of the community and demonstrate consistent support for students, staff, and district initiatives.

Community highlights include: Rural lifestyle with convenient access to Prescott, Phoenix, and Flagstaff. Affordable housing relative to nearby metropolitan areas Strong parent and community engagement robust support for student programs through Arizona school tax credits

For additional information about the District and the community please access this website:

www.mayerschools.org

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS FEBRUARY 12, 2026

Why Mayer Unified?

• Opportunity to lead a districtwide PK–12 system
• Four-day school week supporting recruitment and retention Strong community pride and support for schools
• Meaningful superintendent-to-student and superintendent-to staff relationships
• Ability to make an immediate and lasting impact

The Superintendent / Jr/Sr High School Principal Role

The Superintendent / Jr/Sr High School Principal serves as the district’s chief executive officer and instructional leader while directly leading Mayer Jr/Sr High School (Grades 7–12). This dual role is well-suited for a leader who values close engagement, shared leadership, and hands-on involvement.

Key Responsibilities

District Leadership

• Serve as the chief executive officer of the district
• Work collaboratively with the Governing Board to implement district goals and policies
• Provide visionary, instructional, and operational leadership Ensure fiscal stability, budget oversight, and compliance with state and federal requirements
• Oversee district personnel, programs, and operations, including specialized instructional services
• Foster positive labor relations and support professional growth Work collaboratively with a full-time PK–12 Curriculum Coordinator who oversees districtwide curriculum alignment and all state and district testing programs

Jr/Sr High School Leadership

• Serve as Principal of Mayer Jr/Sr High School (Grades 7–12)
• Provide instructional leadership and staff supervision
• Support student achievement, attendance, and graduation outcomes Oversee academic programs, activities, athletics, and CTE offerings Work collaboratively with a full-time Dean of Students, who manages daily campus operations and student discipline
• Maintain a visible presence on campus and at school and community events

Equal Opportunity Employer

Mayer Unified School District #43 does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs or activities

Desired Leadership Qualities:

The Governing Board seeks a leader who:

• Values rural education and small-school leadership Thrives in a hands-on, student-centered environment
• Demonstrates knowledge of diverse learner needs,
• including special education programming
• Builds strong relationships with staff, students, families, and the community
• Demonstrates strong fiscal, organizational, and instructional leadership communicates clearly, professionally, and transparently. Effectively balances district level leadership with daily campus responsibilities.

For additional information about the District and the community please access this website:

www.mayerschools.org

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS FEBRUARY 12, 2026

The Search

Mayer Unified School District has engaged the services of the Arizona School Administrators to direct a search for qualified candidates. Each finalist will visit the district at his/her expense to be interviewed by the Governing Board. Governing Board members may visit the communities of selected candidates as part of the final selection process.

To receive consideration, an applicant’s file must be completed and filed with ASA by 5:00 P.M. Arizona time, February 12, 2026. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Once the position has closed, no additions or adjustments to an application packet may be made. This search may include one or two interviews. It is expected that the names of applicants to be interviewed will be released to the public at the screening meeting. All inquiries related to this search are to be directed to Dr. Denton Santarelli, ASA Consultant (drdgsanta@cox.net), or Dr. Paul Tighe,

Executive Director, ASA (ptighe@azsa.org).

Search Timeline

Vacancy Announced: January 8, 2026

Deadline for Applications (5:00 p.m. AZ time): February 12, 2026

Applicant Screening with Governing Board: February 19, 2026

Candidate Interviews with Board: February 24, 2026

Community Meet & Greet: February 25, 2026

Finalist Interviews: February 26, 2026 (possibly virtual)

Governing Board Decision: February 28, 2026

Announcement of New Appointment: TBD

Incoming Superintendent Assumes Duties: July 1, 2026

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS FEBRUARY 12, 2026

Pay: $125,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person