Board of education members come and go, but the community remains. Wise candidates for a superintendent position, as well as the dedicated board members involved in fulfilling this important duty, understand this and therefore want the public to be part of the superintendent search process. As a search consultant to school boards for 20 years, the author has borne witness to dozens of superintendents finding a comfortable match with a new school district when the appointment process has been open to the public--a condition she views as essential. The author emphasizes that one advantage of the open search process is that the new superintendent will be working with district employees and community members long after most of the board members leave office. It is important to know how one might fit within the prevailing conditions and the key stakeholders before the board makes the most important personnel appointment under its control. She adds that having the community, parents, school district employees and students involved in the superintendent search process provides support for the board of education, leads to more favorable public perceptions and builds trust. For the candidate, the open process lends a support base from the start in the new position.