Dr. Richard Faidley

WBSD7 School Board Selects Dr. Richard Faidley for Superintendent

Williston, N.D., (April 7, 2022) – The Williston Basin School Board is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Richard Faidley as Superintendent.  Dr. Faidley is currently the Superintendent of Wilson School District in West Lawn, PA, and has 32 years of education experience.  Some of his more notable qualifications that led the board to select him are leading several successful building projects, developing a high performing district leadership team that was focused on teaching and learning, and being focused on the social, emotional, mental health, and academic well-being of all students.  Mr. Jundt had this to say about Dr. Faidley, “He has a genuine care for the staff and stakeholders in the district, especially the students.”

During a special school board meeting on April 7th, the board approved a 3-year contract for Dr. Faidley, which will begin on July 1, 2022, commencing on June 30, 2025.  Dr. Faidley and his wife are excited to join the Williston community and have begun looking for their new home here.

WBSD7 School Board Announces Final Candidates for Open Superintendent Position

Williston, N.D., (March 31, 2022) – The Williston Basin School Board announces three finalists for the Superintendent position.  The finalists are (alphabetically): Ms. Teresa Chaulk, Superintendent of Schools, Lincoln County School District #1, Kemmerer, WY; Dr. Richard Faidley, Superintendent of Schools, Wilson West Lawn School District, West Lawn, PA; and Dr. Charles Fischer, former Executive Director – Alternative Education, Riverside County Office of Education, Riverside, CA.

Teresa Chaulk – Ms. Chaulk has 30 years of experience in education and currently serves as the Superintendent of Schools for Lincoln County School District #1.  During her 15 years at Lincoln County School District #1, she has worked with capital construction projects which included passing bonds to obtain the funds to build and complete the projects.  Her professional experience includes teaching, administration at the building level, and administration at the district level including HR, curriculum director, special education director, business manager, and superintendent.  Ms. Chaulk has a Bachelor in Science degree in Elementary and K-12 Special Education from Black Hills State University; endorsement programs for building level and district level administration; and a Masters of Science degree in Accounting and Finance from DeVry University Keller Institute.  Ms. Chaulk is married and has 3 grown sons.

COMPLETE RESUME: Teresa Chaulk (available online at www.willistonschools.org/page/superintendent-search.

Dr. Richard Faidley – Dr. Faidley was named Superintendent of the Wilson School District in July 2017, which serves over 5,900 students and 550 faculty members.  Throughout his career, Dr. Faidley has served in a variety of roles, including teaching, school administration, and district administration including superintendent, associate superintendent, and executive director of student services.  In his 32 years of education experience, Dr. Faidley has led major efforts resulting in increased student achievement and significant improvements in teaching and learning.  This work included building organizational leadership capacity and developing a system of accountability for achievement.  He has worked collaboratively with the school and business community to develop long lasting relationships focused on improving the quality of education for students, and has extensive experience in educational leadership, which includes school reform initiatives in large school districts, innovative education programs, facilities and maintenance, new construction, school nutrition, federal programs, technology, purchasing, procurement, transportation, finance, human resources, student services, and mentorship of principals.  Dr. Faidley holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Arizona.  Dr. Faidley and his wife have family who live in Western North Dakota, and his wife grew up on a farm and is a graduate of Plaza High School.

COMPLETE RESUME: Richard Faidley, Ed.D. (available online at www.willistonschools.org/page/superintendent-search.

Dr. Charles Fischer – Dr. Fischer has spent the past 38 years serving as an executive director, director, principal, assistant principal, teacher and coach in three organizations in California public schools.  Dr. Fischer possesses a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership, a Master of Arts degree in History, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History-Social Science along with various credentials.  Dr. Fischer has extensive experience in fiscal services/budget development, charter schools, student assessments, curriculum and instruction, staff development, alternative education, career technical education, employee supervision and evaluation, food services for students, and many other operational and instructional services.  Most recently, Dr. Fischer served as the Executive Director – Alternative Education for the Riverside County Office of Education, where he retired in January 2022.  During his career, he has been the recipient of various honors and awards including the Riverside County District Attorney’s Community Hero Award (2022) for his work on the Aware to Care Exchange (a system by which first responders notify school sites when a child has gone through an adverse childhood experience), Riverside County Office of Education Certificated Administrator of the Year (2021), Principal of the Year (2009), and Parent-Teacher Service Award (2009).  Dr. Fischer is married and has 4 adult daughters.  One of his daughters is currently living in Minot, where her husband is stationed in the U.S. Air Force.

COMPLETE RESUME: Charles S. Fischer, Ed.D. (available online at www.willistonschools.org/page/superintendent-search.

The board will be interviewing the finalists a second time on April 6th during a special school board meeting and intend to vote on its selection of the next district leader later that day.  The successful candidate will fill the open superintendent seat for the district, which has been open since November 2021.

These finalists come to the district from the search firm, Ray and Associates, who the board selected to spearhead the search process.  This included seeking out candidates, reviewing application materials, and carefully assessing the qualifications of candidates in relation to the candidate profile determined by the board, district employees, and community members.

For more information on the Superintendent search process, please visit https://www.willistonschools.org/page/superintendent-search.

WBSD7 School Board Chooses First-Round Interview Candidates for Open Superintendent Position

Williston, N.D., (March 24, 2022) – The Williston Basin School District #7 school board has taken some important steps in selecting the next Superintendent for the District.  On Monday, March 21st, the Board met with representatives from Ray & Associates, Inc. to review applicants and identify candidates to interview for the first round of interviews.  Out of 19 total applicants, the Board made selections of who will be moving on to the first-round interviews, which will take place on March 30th.

Looking ahead, the Board anticipates they will be selecting finalists for the open Superintendent position on March 30th, at which time those finalists’ names will be released to the public.  The final interviews will take place on April 6th, with the board likely announcing the chosen candidate later that day.

When asked about the Superintendent search, Chris Jundt, Board President, said “I am pleased with the progress we have made towards the selection of the next Superintendent of Williston Basin School District #7.  The board is looking forward to first round interviews on March 30th and ultimately identifying the next leader of the school district on April 6th.”

For more information on the Superintendent search process, please visit https://www.willistonschools.org/page/superintendent-search.

Williston Basin School District #7 Superintendent Search Stakeholder Input Meetings

 Williston, N.D., (December 28, 2021) – Ray & Associates, Inc., the firm that has been chosen to assist Williston Basin School District #7 will be holding stakeholder input meetings on January 18 and 19, 2022.

The purpose of these meetings is to gain feedback and input from various stakeholder groups in the community to create a profile of the ideal candidate to fill the open superintendent position.  The meetings will be facilitated by representatives of Ray & Associates, Inc.  Stakeholders are encouraged to participate in these meetings either in person or virtually.  To assist in the planning, those interested in attending are asked to RSVP to one of the meetings.  A list of meetings and the RSVP forms are available on the school district’s website under the Superintendent Search tab, or https://www.willistonschools.org/page/superintendent-search.

January 18th:

2:00 p.m.  Principals at Bakken Auditorium

4:00 p.m.  Support Staff at Bakken Auditorium (and virtual)

4:00 p.m.  Teachers at County Commission Room (and virtual)

5:00 p.m.  Parents at County Commission Room (and virtual)

6:00 p.m.  Community at County Commission Room (and virtual)

January 19th:

10:00 a.m. Parents at County Commission Room (and virtual)

2:00 p.m.  District Admins/Directors/Dept. Heads at Bakken Auditorium

4:00 p.m.  Support Staff at Bakken Auditorium (and virtual)

4:00 p.m.  Teachers at County Commission Room (and virtual)

5:00 p.m.  Parents at County Commission Room (and virtual)

6:00 p.m.  Community at County Commission Room (and virtual)

Williston Basin School District #7 Officially Begins Search for Next Superintendent

Williston, N.D., (December 21, 2021) - The Williston Basin School Board is in the process of searching for the next superintendent for Williston Basin School District #7. The School Board has chosen to work with Ray & Associates, Inc. in their search.

Currently, the Board is seeking input from all stakeholders and has released an input survey which will run from December 21, 2021, through 8:00 a.m. on January 24, 2022. The

community will have an additional opportunity to offer input during stakeholder meetings which will be held on January 18 and 19, 2022. Details will be forthcoming on those meetings.

Applications for the superintendent position will open on January 27, 2022 and will close on March 6, 2022. The first round of interviews will take place in-person on March 30 and 31, 2022, followed by the second and final round of interviews on April 5 and 6, 2022. The School Board anticipates they will reach a decision on April 6, 2022. The selected candidate will begin in July 2022.

For more information, including the survey links and a superintendent search timeline, please visit www.willistonschools.org/page/superintendent-search.