School board to hold superintendent interviews April 1 and 2

By Stacey Tinsley, stinsley@bossierpress.com

Bossier Parish School Board will start conducting interviews for the superintendent position on April 1. 

Bossier Parish School Board members voted unanimously at their regular meeting Thursday, March 28 to interview the six applicants who applied for the position last week.

The board plans to conduct three interviews on April 1 and three more on April 2. 

The dates and times superintendent applicant interviews will be conducted:

April 1

• 4:30 p.m. –  Dr. Vicki Younger
• 5:30 p.m. –  Mitch Downey
• 6:30 p.m. –  Victor Mainiero

April 2

• 4:30 p.m. –  Brian Binggeli
• 5:30 p.m. –  Elizabeth Duran Swinford
• 6:30 p.m. –  Clarence Robinson

During the first round of interviews, each candidate will complete a 60-minute interview. 

Within the first five minutes of the interview, the candidate will have an opportunity to introduce themselves to the board. After their introduction, each board member will then ask the candidate a question. Following their reply, Sonja Bailes, public relations liaison for Bossier Parish Schools, will ask the candidate two questions. Following their response to Bailes, the candidate will then have the opportunity to conclude with a five-minute closing statement. 

After the initial interviews have been concluded by all candidates on April 2, the board will then vote and announce the two finale candidates. 

Starting at 4:30 p.m. on April 8, interviews will be conducted for each finalist. Immediately following the first and final interview for the first candidate, the second candidate will start their final interview.

Following those interviews, on April 8, the school board will then reconvene, vote, and announce who the new Bossier Parish Schools superintendent. 

Mitch Downey, interim Bossier Schools superintendent, is a 34-year veteran of Bossier Schools who previously served as Bossier Schools’ assistant superintendent of administration and personnel.

Binggeli, is a past superintendent of Plano ISD in Texas. Mainiero, is executive director of school performance for Caddo Parish Schools. Robinson, is superintendent of Pine Bluff School District in Arkansas. Duran Swinford is CEO/HR consultant for PD Remix of Forrest Hills, NY and past superintendent of several schools systems throughout the South. Dr. Younger is the current principal of Central Park Elementary in Bossier City and former principal of Forest Hills Elementary in Rapides Parish.

You can read the applications and resumes of all the applicants here.