The search for a new superintendent of Niles Community Schools yielded 23 applicants.

Of those who applied, six were chosen as finalists last week by the district’s board of education.

Five hail from Indiana, while one is from Illinois. All but one candidate has experience working as either a superintendent or assistant superintendent.

Board President Kathy Zeider said she is pleased with the quality of candidates the board received as a whole. She said there was very little disagreement when choosing the finalists.

“We all came up with a similar list,” she said. “It is a good group of candidates.”

The six finalists will be interviewed in public Jan. 5, 7 and 8 at the Westside Administrative Center.

While members of the public will not be able to ask the candidates questions, they can submit questions to the school board.

Interviews begin at 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. all three days. Christopher Daughtry and Terry Barker will be interviewed Jan. 5, while Daniel Applegate and Joseph Majchrowicz will go Jan. 7 and Michael Pettibone and Monte Moffett Jan. 8.

“We have a very strong field of people coming in so the board is going to have a difficult time,” said interim Supt. Michael Lindley, who took over after former Supt. Richard Weigel resigned in February.

“These are good people. It is going to be a matter of who is going to be the best match for Niles Community Schools and taking us from where we are today and helping the district move forward.”

Below is a brief description of each candidate based on application materials submitted to Niles Community Schools.

 

Dr. Christopher Daughtry

Daughtry has worked as superintendent of Central Noble Community Schools in Albion, Indiana since 2010. Prior to that, he was a director of transportation for Tippecanoe Schools in Lafayette, Indiana, and principal of Wabash City Schools in Wabash, Indiana.

 

Dr. Terry Barker

Barker is currently the superintendent of School City Mishawaka in Mishawaka, Indiana. He has held the position since 2011. Prior to that, he held positions of superintendent at three other schools — two in Indiana and one in Illinois.

In his application, Barker wrote that changes to the Indiana Public Retirement System necessitate his pursuing professional opportunities in other states.

 

Dr. Daniel Applegate

Applegate has worked as an assessment and accreditation coordinator at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana since January 2013.

He is a former Niles Community Schools employee having worked as the district’s director of special education from 2008 to 2012 and director of instruction from 2010 to 2012. Prior to that he was a school psychologist at Berrien RESA for many years.

 

Dr. Joseph Majchrowicz

Majchrowicz is currently working part time as superintendent of Burnham SD 154.5 in Burnham, Illinois. He retired in 2012 after working as superintendent at Sunnybrook SD 171 in Lansing, Illinois for 12 years.

In his application, Majchrowicz said he realized he still has “plenty left in the tank” and wants to return to working in a full-time capacity.

 

Michael Pettibone

Pettibone retired in 2013 from his job as superintendent of Adams Central Community Schools in Monroe, Indiana. It was a job he held for 11 years.

Prior to that, he worked as a principal of Clay High School and Wilson Elementary School in South Bend, Indiana, and as a teacher, coach and principal at Plymouth Community Schools in Plymouth, Indiana.

 

Monte Moffett

Moffett is an assistant superintendent for operations and human resources at Duneland School Corporation in Chesterton, Indiana. He has held that job since 2004.

Prior to that, Moffett worked as principal of River Forest Community Schools in Hobart, Indiana, from 1995 to 2003.