Evergreen board names two finalists for superintendent; public meet-and-greet set for March 12

The Evergreen School District Board of Directors announced two finalists for superintendent on Feb. 25: Dr. Christine Maloney and Dr. Christina Kishimoto. Board leaders said the finalists were selected after a six-month search and invited the public to a community meet-and-greet on Wednesday, March 12 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the district boardroom.

The board said Dr. Maloney is serving as Evergreen Public Schools' interim superintendent in a role she has held since July 2, 2024, and previously served four years as superintendent of Chehalis School District. Dr. Kishimoto was identified as a former superintendent of the Hawaii State Department of Education (2017–2021) and has also served as superintendent in Gilbert, Arizona and Hartford, Connecticut; the board noted she lives in Vancouver, founded the nonprofit Voice for Equity and is a professor of clinical education at the University of Southern California.

The board said the March 12 event will be open to the public, will include Spanish and Russian interpreters, allow attendees to ask questions of the finalists, and provide a survey for community feedback. The announcement did not indicate any final decision date or the timeline for a board vote on appointment.

Why it matters: Choosing a superintendent affects district leadership, policy direction and the management of budget and academic initiatives. The board’s public meet-and-greet and survey provide a formal channel for community input before a final decision.

Board leaders said both finalists will be available at the March 12 forum and that the district will collect community feedback via the survey provided that evening. No final appointment vote or contract terms were announced at the Feb. 25 meeting.