The Ottumwa Community School District Board of Education has announced three finalists to become the district’s next superintendent after a comprehensive review process with staff at Grundmeyer Leader Services. The three finalists are Dr. Willie Barney, Dr. Casey Berlau, and Bradley McCloskey.

Dr. Barney is the current instructional leadership director and associate superintendent for the Davenport Community School District. He has overseen a $220 million general fund budget for a district serving 14,000 students. He has also implemented a district early warning system that integrates academic performance, attendance, behavior, and other factors.

Previously, Dr. Barney served as superintendent at Meskwaki Settlement School in Tama, where he collaborated with Sac and Fox Tribal Council leadership to reestablish school board governance. He also led the district through COVID-19 disruptions and established a technology plan for all grade levels. He also served as principal at Waterloo East High School in Waterloo.

Dr. Berlau has 20 years of experience serving as a superintendent in school districts throughout Iowa. Currently serving as superintendent at Carroll CSD, he has led the district through changes in athletic conferences, an instructional support levy, and changes in district leadership strategies.

Before his current role, Dr. Berlau also led the CAM Community School District through multiple successful, voter-approved physical plant and equipment levies, bond elections, and grant applications, while serving as shared superintendent with Nodaway Valley CSD.

McCloskey is the current associate superintendent at Ottumwa Schools. In this role, he has worked to implement a district-wide instructional framework. He also led the district to adopt professional development that supports this framework and worked with human resources to develop innovative hiring practices.

Previously, McCloskey served as an assistant principal and principal at multiple Iowa middle and high schools; overall, he has over 13 years of experience as an administrator. He also taught high school science at Ottumwa for six years, middle school science at West Branch for three years, and was an Upward Bound instructor in the summer.

As a next step, the board and stakeholder interview teams will conduct formal interviews with each finalist on Tuesday, February 10. The board will then deliberate and reach a final decision soon after the formal interviews.

The next superintendent will begin serving the Ottumwa Community School District effective July 1, 2026.