Dr. Amanda Ross

An Ames school administrator was selected Monday night as the next Webster City schools superintendent.

Dr. Amanda Ross, currently the associate superintendent for Ames Community School District, was extended a contract for the Webster City position following a closed session meeting of the board.

Ross will succeed Mike Sherwood as superintendent. Sherwood announced his plans to retire on June 31 earlier this year.

The district hired the search firm of McPherson and Jacobson LLC which advanced three candidates for the position. A total of 27 completed applications were received for the job. The finalists were Dr. Jesse Ulrich, of AHSTW Schools; Ryan Bergeson, superintendent at Scotland County R-1 School District in Memphis, Mo. and Ross. Ulrich, however, was named the new superintendent of Fort Dodge Schools last Monday. The board conducted interviews with Ross and Bergeson, a Webster City High School graduate, last week.

“As a board, we would like to thank both candidates for taking the time to go through the application process and spend a day last week learning more about the Webster City School District,” said Beth Van Diest, board president. “We were very fortunate to have two very exceptional candidates.”

Pending contract review by the district’s legal counsel and a background check, Ross will begin her duties on July 1.