The Peninsula School District Board of Directors has announced the semi-finalist candidates for the district’s superintendent position. Superintendent Dr. Art Jarvis, who was selected by the board in July of 2018 as the district’s interim superintendent, will retire from the district on June 30, 2021.

The board hired consultant firm Northwest Leadership Associates (NWLA) to lead recruitment activities in October 2020. The district posted the position last fall and applications were due last month. 

The board met with NWLA on March 4 in an executive session and selected the following semi-finalists:

• Krestin Bahr, Superintendent, Eatonville School District

• Heidi Harris, Assistant Superintendent, Auburn School District

• John Harrison, Chief of Staff, Bellevue School District

• Dana Rosenbach, Superintendent, North Mason School District

• Tim Winter, Superintendent, South Kitsap School District

Overall, the district received 29 applications for the position, including:

• 21 men;

• 8 women;

• 10 who are or have been superintendents;

• 16 who work in central office roles;

• 1 who is a principal;

• 1 who works in another position; and

• 1 who rescinded their application due to accepting a position in another district.

According to NWLA, 17 of the applicants reside in Washington State. The others are from areas including Minnesota, Illinois, North Dakota, Michigan, Iowa, South Carolina, Colorado, Idaho, and Florida.

Preliminary interviews with the semi-finalists are scheduled for Saturday, March 13, 2021 beginning at 8:30am at Pioneer Elementary School. Board members will interview each candidate in an open public forum. Due to COVID-19 protocols, space is limited for in-person viewing, so the interviews will be live-streamed on the district webpage and YouTube channel. Each candidate will be interviewed separately for 50 minutes. 

Digital feedback forms will be available for each candidate on the agenda and our website. The board encourages community feedback and will review each form received.

The board anticipates the semi-finalists to be narrowed down to three candidates, who will then have a second interview with the board, staff, and community members next week. The board plans to announce its choice for superintendent on Friday, March 19 and finalize the contract at its regular meeting on Thursday, March 25. The selected individual will officially assume the job on July 1. 

During the superintendent search process, all staff, families, and community members had an opportunity to take a survey to inform the district about the personal attributes and qualities our community would like to see in the next leader of Peninsula School District. 

Information about the superintendent search can be found at psd401.net/suptsearch.