The Clarke County Board of Education has announced Dr. Demond Means as the final candidate for superintendent of the Clarke County School District. Dr. Means is currently the superintendent of the Mequon-Thiensville School District in southeast Wisconsin. The community is invited to Whitehead Road Elementary School at 6 p.m. today to hear Dr. Means' vision, ask him questions and hear from the Board of Education and search firm regarding the extensive nationwide search that has culminated in today's announcement.
 
"The Board of Education is pleased to announce our candidate for superintendent - Dr. Demond Means - who brings a wealth of experience and success to the table," said Board President Charles Worthy. "He has a track record as a visionary leader, and the district he currently oversees boasts an 85% graduation rate. Our Board could not be more pleased to introduce him to the community this evening."
 
Under Dr. Means' leadership the Mequon-Thiensville School District has been recognized as the best K-12 school district with an enrollment of 3,000 or more in Wisconsin by the state accountability system report card for three consecutive years. Consistent success led to his being tapped as the chair of Wisconsin's Promoting Excellence for All - a task force formed by the Wisconsin Department of Instruction to develop strategies to address the state's achievement gap.
 
Dr. Means earned three degrees in Wisconsin: a bachelor's degree in secondary education from Concordia University, in addition to both a master's degree in educational administration and a doctorate in educational leadership from Cardinal Stritch University. In 2015, he completed the American Association of School Administrators National Superintendent Certification Program.
 
Suzette Urbashich, a former board president who worked closely with Dr. Means and was part of the board leadership that promoted him to superintendent said, "Dr. Means has become one of the most successful and effective educational leaders in our state and region. At the same time, he has never lost sight of our responsibility to work on behalf of and advocate for all children."
 
 Means has served over 23 distinguished years in education, including holding the following positions: superintendent, assistant superintendent, university adjunct professor, director for human resources, principal, associate principal, assistant principal and social studies teacher.