Port Angeles School Board adopts superintendent search criteria after edits

PORT ANGELES, Wash. — The Port Angeles School Board on Jan. 30 adopted a revised set of criteria to guide its search for a new superintendent, approving the document unanimously after editing language to clarify program priorities, refine candidate qualities and set a timeline for the recruitment process.

The document, crafted by the district’s search consultant and revised in real time with board input, will be posted publicly and used to screen applicants. Hank, the superintendent search firm representative, told the board the draft reflects input gathered from roughly 328 survey respondents and focus groups: "I bring to you tonight my best thinking about what the community wants," he said.

Why it matters: the criteria will shape who applies, how candidates are screened and what the board emphasizes in interviews. The board moved to make sure the language highlights local program priorities — including Career and Technical Education (CTE), music and athletics — clarifies expectations about experience and community engagement, and signals priorities central to the district and voters who recently approved local funding.

Board discussion and edits Board members worked through the list line-by-line and agreed on several substantive edits. The board added a specific call-out for CTE and for cocurricular programs, changing a general phrase to read (in the final draft) that the next superintendent should "develop, sustain and expand academics, CTE and cocurricular programs such as athletics, activities and music to attract, retain and engage families and prepare students for future success." Board members said they wanted the programs named so the community recognizes them.

Members removed or revised several descriptive terms after noting they were difficult to measure or vague. The board agreed to drop the adjective "humble" from one section and to remove the phrase "speaks from the heart" from another, keeping language that the superintendent "listens, reflects, is attentive and authentic." The phrase "behavior management" was replaced with "discipline" to match local usage, and the word "impact" was changed to "effect."

The board also reordered the criteria headings so the document foregrounds student-centered leadership and visibility. The final heading order the board settled on places an "inspiring visionary and innovator" first, followed by a "visible and compassionate leader," a "champion of equity," and finishing with an "authentic communicator and relationship builder." Members discussed combining a section on problem-solving with the visionary category so the list reads more clearly.

Special populations and instructional experience Directors pressed to ensure the criteria address students in special populations. After discussion the board added language that candidates should "understand the unique needs of students in special populations" (the board used "special populations" in discussion to encompass a broad range of needs). Board members also required that candidates demonstrate experience with modern instructional practices and evidence of accomplishments in senior leadership roles.

Survey and next steps Casey McDonald, executive assistant to the superintendent, provided respondent details for the survey the consultant referenced: the district received 328 completed responses — 114 students (34.9%), 121 parents/guardians (37.0%), 27 community members without an enrolled student (8.3%), 62 teachers or licensed employees (19.0%), 35 classified support staff (10.0%) and seven administrators or supervisors (2.0%). The consultant said the recruitment window is open and closes Feb. 13; board members were told they will receive access to applications during the weekend of Feb. 14–15 and should allot several hours to review materials before the board’s executive-session review on Feb. 18.

Timeline and procedures noted by the board include: applicants’ materials available to board members mid-February; an executive session to evaluate and advance candidates on Feb. 18 (board members will use letter proxies when publicly advancing candidates); first‑round interviews scheduled for Feb. 22; and the consultant will post the approved criteria on the district website once the chair and executive assistant have reviewed the final copy.

Votes at a glance Motion to accept the document as developed by the board: "I move we accept, this document as developed tonight by the entire board." (motion moved and seconded on the record). The board voted unanimously in favor; the chair announced a unanimous "Aye." No recorded no or abstain votes were entered.

What the board directed The board directed the consultant to clean up the draft to reflect the agreed edits, to circulate the cleaned draft to the board chair and executive assistant for a final review the next morning, and then to post the approved criteria publicly and share them with prospective candidates. Members also set out the candidate-review calendar described above.

The meeting concluded with the board chair calling for the approved document to be posted and with the consultant confirming he would circulate applications and participate in the next scheduled meetings.