WATERLOO - A welcome reception will be held Thursday for Gary Norris, Waterloo Community Schools' next superintendent, and his wife, Julie.

The reception will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the board room of the Education Service Center, 1516 Washington St. The public is invited to attend.

He was hired March 31 by the Board of Education following a four-month nationwide search, which produced 38 applicants. Norris, who will replace retiring Superintendent Dewitt Jones, starts his job July 1.

He has been superintendent of Florida's Sarasota County School District since 2004. Prior to that, Norris was the superintendent in Salina, Kan., Florida's Indian River County, Hibbing, Minn., and Satanta, Kan. Earlier, he served as a high school administrator and vocal music teacher in several Kansas districts.

Norris holds a bachelor's degree from Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kan., and a master's degree and a doctorate from Kansas State University in educational leadership.

This will be Norris' second visit to Waterloo since being hired. In April, he met with district administrators and board members. During that visit, a reception was held so district employees could meet him.