(Updated 12:57-p.m.) — The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education met for a brief session this (Friday) afternoon to vote on approving a one-year Superintendent contract.

Atlantic Board of Education announces new Superintendent (Chris Parks/photo)

The person they selected for the position Steven H. Barber, Superintendent at George-Little Rock Community Schools in George (Iowa) was offered the job earlier this week, and has accepted. Barber has worked for the George-Little Rock District since 2013.

Bruckner said appeared to the selection committee and School Board to be a “Genuinely nice guy. A good guy.” She said also there was a consensus among the constituent groups that allowed him to “Rise to the top,” and that it was “Important that the teachers and administrators have a say in who was going to be their next boss.”

Prior to becoming the Superintendent at GLR, Barber was a Middle School Administrator with the Spencer Community School District (2004-2013). He also served in a Secondary Administrative position at the East Union Middle and High School in Afton (1999-2004), and as a Science Teacher and Coach (for both Academic and Athletic teams) at the East Greene High School in Grand Junction (1991-1999). While there, he coached the varsity cross country and boys track teams, and was an assistant boys basketball coach.

Steven Barber’s education includes: a Specialist Certification from ISU in Ames in “Superintendent Licensure in Advanced Studies;” A Master’s Degree in Education from ISU in Ames; A Bachelor of Science degree from Bemidji State University in Bemidji, MN; and an Associate of Arts degree from Worthington Community College in Worthington, MN.  He and his wife Debra have two grown daughters.

There were three finalists for the position, after months of meetings and planning for the interview process. In addition to Mr. Barber, Dr. Joe Potts, Ph.D, an Iowa native who resides in Kent, WA., and serves as High School Principal for the Kent Community School District; and Dan Dierks, who has served Superintendent for the Oelwein Community School District, since 2015, were interviewed for the job.

Steven Barber will succeed Dr. Michael Amstein, who is retiring at the end of the current school year, after having worked for the District since 2010.

(Noon News)