NCSD names three superintendent finalists

Natrona County residents will have an opportunity to meet and interview the finalists at a public forum from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Kelly Walsh High School Auditorium.

Participants will be able to submit questions to the candidates, hear responses and complete a feedback questionnaire to share their opinions with the superintendent search committee.

The committee, which consists of NCSD employees, parents and community members, has worked with a search firm to solicit candidates for the position nationwide and conducted preliminary interviews with semifinalists in early February. The committee will take input from the committee and make a final recommendation to the NCSD board of trustees in mid-February.

The finalists include:

- Denise Birdwell. She began her educational career as an English and physical education teacher in 1984. She taught from 1984 until 1996 in Alaska and Arizona. In 1994 she began her administrative career as an administrative intern in Buckeye, Ariz., and was later an assistant principal and principal until 2004 in Phoenix. In 2004 she assumed the position of assistant superintendent for secondary programs in Surprise, Ariz., and is presently assistant superintendent of human resources in Gilbert, Ariz. She earned her master's degree from Northern Arizona University and her Ed.D. from Arizona State.

- Joel Dvorak. He began his educational career in science and math in 1980. He taught from 1980 to 1981 in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wyoming. In 1991 he began his administrative career as an assistant principal in the Sheridan County School District in Ranchester. He was promoted to principal at Big Horn Junior/Senior High School in 1997, then to the Johnson County School District as a principal. In 2000 he was promoted to assistant superintendent. In 2003 he assumed his current position as associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction for the Natrona County School District. Dvorak earned his master's degree and Ed.D. from Wyoming.

- Larry Parsons: He began his educational career as a language arts teacher in 1972, and he taught from 1972 until 1977 in Oregon and Wyoming. He was a principal in Oregon, Colorado and Washington from 1978 to 1994. He became executive director in the Spokane (Wash.) School District in 1994 and became superintendent in the Selah (Wash.) School District in 2001. He earned his master's degree from Eastern Oregon State College and his Ph.D. from Gonzaga.