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District seeks a superintendent with success in team-building

THE PHILADELPHIA School District wants Arlene Ackerman's replacement to act "more as the 'head coach' rather than the 'star.' "

THE PHILADELPHIA School District wants Arlene Ackerman's replacement to act "more as the 'head coach' rather than the 'star.' "

The district released a five-page job description yesterday for the open superintendent job. It hopes to hear from applicants by May 15 and have a new superintendent in place by next school year.

"The next Superintendent/CEO should have experience building and leading successful teams in a large, complex and diverse organization," according to the job posting.

It also states that the applicant should have worked with or be in the public sector and be familiar with "managing a heavily unionized work force."

The superintendent search- team members include all five members of the School Reform Commission, city and private-sector officials, neighborhood advocates and members of school advocacy groups.

The district developed the job description after hearing from the public at 15 meetings around the city.

Ackerman was hired in 2008 and left when the district bought out her contact last August for $905,000.

Her tenure was marked by clashes with her staff, the media, teachers and some members of the SRC. The state is investigating cheating allegations in 53 district schools.