Clear Creek Amana schools appoints new superintendent

OXFORD — The Clear Creek Amana Community School District has hired a new superintendent after former leader Corey Seymour stepped down in February to take a personal leave of absence.

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Aaron Davidson has been named next superintendent of the Clear Creek Amana district effective July 1, pending board approval. Davidson currently serves as executive director of educational services in the Fort Dodge Community School District.

“This is a vibrant district with a strong reputation for academic excellence and community support. I look forward to partnering with staff, families, and the board to build on that success and ensure all students are supported and challenged to reach their full potential,” Davidson said in a news release Thursday. “My leadership philosophy centers on the belief that ‘people are our greatest asset’ and that ‘leadership is about serving others.’ I’m committed to listening, collaborating, and always doing what’s best for kids.”

Davidson also has served as middle school principal in Fort Dodge and a preschool through sixth grade principal in the Pocahontas Community School District. He has been a health, social studies and science teacher and coached baseball, basketball and football.

Clear Creek Amana school board President Dr. Allison Momany said Davidson’s “experience in instructional leadership, focus on student engagement and commitment to continuous improvement” stood out to the board throughout the interview process. “We are confident he is the right leader to guide our district forward,” she said in a news release.

Davidson holds a master’s degree in education from Viterbo University. He also earned a specialist in education credential from Drake University.

Davidson was one of three finalists for the job of superintendent.

Former superintendent Seymore has accepted a position with the Iowa Department of Education beginning this summer, he told The Gazette.

Interim superintendent Denise Schares was appointed in February by the Clear Creek Amana school board for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year. Seymour’s resignation was accepted by the school board Feb. 26.

Schares previously served as superintendent for the Clear Creek Amana district from 2010 to 2013. She has 45 years of experience in education and leadership and also has served as associate superintendent in Waterloo and interim superintendent in Fort Dodge and has been an assistant and associate professor at the University of Northern Iowa.

Schares is being paid $802.21 a day as interim superintendent, according to an agreement between her and the school board. Her contract includes a $3,600 housing allowance and $1,500 travel stipend.

The school board approved a contract with Grundmeyer Leader Services in February to assist in the superintendent search. The district collected community input through a virtual survey and town hall meeting in March.

Qualifications identified as “key traits” for the district’s next superintendent include:

Seymour’s resignation

Seymour began as superintendent of the Clear Creek Amana district in July 2022. He left on Family and Medical Leave, a law providing eligible employees up to 12 weeks of job protected, unpaid leave for qualified medical and family reasons.

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In his resignation agreement with the school board, Seymour and the district agreed that after the conclusion of his FMLA, Seymour will continue on paid personal leave up to the effective date of his resignation June 30.

Seymour’s salary and employee benefits, including family health insurance, will continue until June 30.

Seymour also will be paid out his remaining 31 days of unused vacation time.

The Clear Creek Amana district will pay Seymour a lump sum of $75,000 on or before Aug. 1, according to the agreement.

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