Springfield superintendent considered for Nebraska job

Springfield R-XII Schools Superintendent Norm Ridder is being considered for a job in his home state.

Ridder is one of seven candidates on the short list for the superintendent position at Lincoln Public Schools in Lincoln, Neb. The Lincoln district Board of Education announced the candidates Tuesday. The school district was conducting a nationwide search for a superintendent, which led district officials to Ridder.

A Nebraska native, Ridder joined the Springfield district as superintendent in 2005, and he currently has family living in both Nebraska and Colorado, where he previously worked, according to a Springfield schools news release.

"Like Springfield, Lincoln has a great school system and a great community so it is indeed an honor to work on behalf of the patrons of Springfield as well as to be considered for this leadership role in Lincoln,” Ridder said in the release, which also said that professional growth opportunities and the chance to be near family prompted Ridder to consider the Lincoln post.

“Since there is still much work to be accomplished in Springfield, my interest in the position of superintendent at Lincoln Public Schools came with careful consideration," he added.

Lincoln Public Schools, according to the release, is the second largest public school district in Nebraska with more than 35,000 students in 61 schools.