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The district received 14 completed applications and 19 contacts for the superintendent position.
"I'm very happy. We had really quality candidates. We had quantity and quality," board member Nancy Sarley said Monday. "It was hard to narrow it down to two. I was very pleased."
The candidates are Sandra Tippett, serving as assistant superintendent in the South Middleton School District, and Norman Hatten Jr., the superintendent of Curwensville Area School District.
The district plans a meet-the-candidates night at 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at the middle school, 261 White Oak Road.
Tippett said in an e-mail sent Oct. 10, "I've lived in Lancaster County for over 23 years and am very familiar with the district and the community. Manheim Central is an outstanding school district, with an excellent reputation. It has strong academic and extra-curricular programs, skilled and dedicated teachers and support staff and a supportive community that values education."
Tippett, who has held her current post for four years, previously worked in Gettysburg School District as supervisor of curriculum and instruction, elementary principal in the Lampeter-Strasburg School District and as a teacher and librarian in Elizabethtown Area School District.
Hatten has served as superintendent for the past nine years. Previously, he served as a high school principal in the Brookville School District, assistant principal in the Brockway School District and elementary teacher and reading specialist in DuBois School District.
"As I began to research the district, it quickly became evident that Manheim Central is an outstanding school district. It provides its students with strong academic opportunities and outstanding extracurricular and co-curricular programs," said Hatten in an e-mail sent Oct. 10. "I am confident the qualities I bring to the job fit very well."
Tippett said that her experience in budgeting, curriculum and research-based instruction make her a good candidate for superintendent. Her experience extends to leadership in team building and communication with staff, administration and the community.
"I believe I offer the leadership skills needed to succeed as superintendent," Tippett said. "I try to model honesty, integrity and professional behavior through my words and actions daily and will be a positive representative of the district."
Hatten said he brings passion for education to the district as well as open and positive communication with the community, faculty and board members. He has worked to build trustful and respectful relationships with everyone involved in the educational process.
"It is critical that all students are provided with the best academic, extracurricular and character-building opportunities that a quality public school education can provide," Hatten said.
The meet-the-candidates night is open to the public. Before the meeting, members of the search committee will accept questions to ask the candidates. The committee members will ask the questions.
