Mount Baker School Board unanimously voted at a special meeting Friday, March 14 to hire Jessica Schenck, an Othello School District administrator, to be the new superintendent.
Schenck, the assistant superintendent of teaching and learning in the Othello School District, has more than 20 years of experience in education, and previously was a principal, a director of STEM education and a math and science teacher at Othello, according to her resume.
Schenck will start July 1, subject to contract negotiations and a successful background check. She said she was looking for opportunities to live closer to family, and said she fell “in love” with the district after interviewing in person last week.
“The staff and students really showed me the pride and joy they have for the district,” she said. She acknowledged the challenges the district is facing with finances and enrollment, but said she believes the leadership team will “find the right, creative solutions for all of these challenges.”
She was selected out of three finalist candidates, including Tim LaGrange, superintendent of the Kittitas School District and Jeff Hardesty, the superintendent of the Oroville School District.
“I would like to thank our students, employees, families and community members for their authentic engagement and participation in this important process,” School Board President Russ Pfeiffer-Hoyt said at the special board meeting.
The district has been without a permanent leader since December 2023, when former superintendent Mary Sewright resigned several months ahead of her planned retirement.
Pfeiffer-Hoyt thanked previous Interim Superintendent Phil Brockman and current Interim Superintendent Nick Perigo for “righting the ship,” and making the district a place where “a strong candidate would want to apply.” The district has been in binding conditions with the state since summer 2023 and has slowly been making its way back to financial stability.
“I look forward to many good years of leadership with Jessica, and I think we’re off to a great start here,” Pfeiffer-Hoyt said.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
