Kimzey, formerly the chief schools officer at Norfolk Public Schools in Virginia, was named the sole finalist for the Pueblo D60 superintendent position on April 24. Her selection was the result of a nearly three-month national search conducted by the executive search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates.
The term of Kimzey's approved contract will begin on July 1, 2024 — the day that current Superintendent Charlotte Macaluso's retirement becomes effective — and end June 30, 2027, according to a copy of the contract obtained by the Chieftain through a Colorado Open Records Act request.
"I am honored and humbled to have been selected as the new Superintendent for Pueblo School District 60," Kimzey said in a written statement to the Chieftain. "I am excited to begin meeting our students, staff, and families as we work together to build upon the District’s strengths in order to continue our vision of being a high-performing school district that inspires community confidence."
Kimzey's role as chief schools officer at Norfolk Public Schools is similar to that of an assistant superintendent. Her employment with Norfolk Public Schools began in 2020 after having been a middle school principal in Portsmouth Public Schools and an assistant principal at two high schools within Hampton City Schools.
The contract between Kimzey and Pueblo D60 requires the district to pay a $225,000 base salary. While that salary exceeds both the 2022-23 state average of $141,986 and Macaluso's 2022-23 salary of $204,360, a posted salary between $225,000 and $300,000 was agreed upon by the Pueblo D60 board in February.
Pueblo D60 also will offer health, dental, life insurance and other benefits through the contract at the same rate as other 12-month administrators employed by the district. Additionally, Kimzey will receive a $9,600 annual expense allowance, a Pueblo D60-owned cell phone, a laptop computer and a moving allowance of up to $10,000.
Through the contract, Kimzey has agreed to establish permanent residence within Pueblo D60 boundaries "on or before" Nov. 1. If a permanent residence is not established by that date, the district may give the superintendent 90 days' notice before unilateral termination of the contract.
While Kimzey comes to Pueblo from Norfolk, the incoming superintendent already has met with several Pueblo D60 community members as one of three superintendency finalists to tour the district on April 16. Kimzey visited the Steel City again on April 24 to interview with Pueblo D60 board members and be named the sole finalist.
"I am looking forward to my move and to establishing deep, enduring roots as I make Pueblo my home," Kimzey said.
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Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com
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