South Tama County Superintendent Jared Smith was named as one of four finalists for the superintendent of schools position at Waterloo Community Schools. Smith is a Waterloo native and formerly worked as an assistant principal in the district from 2012-2016. A decision from the Waterloo CSD Board of Education is expected not long after the final interviews are conducted on Jan. 27. -- News Chronicle File Photo

In an announcement from the Waterloo Community School District on Monday, it was revealed that South Tama County Superintendent Jared Smith was named as one of four finalists for the superintendent’s job.

The opening comes following the announcement of the retirement of long-time Waterloo CSD Superintendent Jane Lindaman at the end of the current school year. Lindaman will have been with the Waterloo district for 17 years once she concludes her tenure.

Smith was hired at South Tama in 2018 and is in his fourth year with the district, his first as a superintendent.

Prior to arriving in Tama-Toledo he was the high school principal at Muscatine High School for two years and also served in a prior administrative role at Waterloo CSD from 2012 to 2016.

Smith holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration from Iowa State University and has earned Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in related fields from National Louis University and the University of Northern Iowa respectively.

In comparison, Waterloo Community School District serves close to 11,000 students and includes 19 schools. South Tama County serves around 1,500 students with three schools.

Final interviews with the candidates are scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 27. A press release from the district stated the Waterloo Board of Education will meet soon after the interviews to make and announce their decision for the position.

The news comes at a time where the South Tama district is nearing a bond referendum vote on a major capital improvement project to construct a new middle school.

The News Chronicle reached out to Smith for comment regarding his recent career development and its potential impact on the future of the district but did not receive a response by press time on Wednesday.

The other three candidates also vying for the Waterloo CSD superintendent position are:

-Darren Hanna, Superintendent of the Emmetsburg Community School District

-Stephanie Jones, Chief Officer in the Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services for Chicago Public Schools

-Amy Kortemeyer, Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services for the Iowa City Community School District

The new Waterloo CSD superintendent will begin on July 1, 2022.