Superintendent Search starts

Former Walla Walla Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Dennis Ray of Northwest Leadership Associates briefed the school board on the process his firm will use to conduct the district’s Superintendent Search. Dr. Ray was Superintendent in Walla Walla from 1980 to 1990 and will personally serve as the lead person conducting the search.

Dr. Ray stressed the process will be transparent with plenty of opportunities for input from staff and the community. A survey will be available to all stakeholders later this month with focus group meetings scheduled in October as well.

The position will be posted in November and will close February 1. Preliminary interviews of five to six candidates are expected to be conducted in February. Dr. Ray expects to have three finalists. They will be interviewed in early March. The district hopes to name the new superintendent by mid-March. The new superintendent will assume the duties July 1, 2016.

School board members unanimously approved hiring Dr. Dennis Ray of Northwest Leadership Associates in May.