Meet the Superintendent – Mike Pearson

Superintendent Mike Pearson began his career in the Central Valley School District as a Business and Marketing Instructor in 1978. He has served in a variety of positions, prior to taking on the role of Superintendent in 2003.

Since being in the Central Valley School District, Mike has enjoyed the opportunity to work with hundreds of staff, students, parents and community members in his roles as:

• Activities Coordinator -- serving Central Valley, East Valley and West Valley Middle Schools
• Assistant Superintendent
• Building administrator
• Business and Marketing instructor
• Coordinator of Professional-Technical Education
• Director of High Schools
• Director of Secondary Education
• District Representative – coordinated construction of two high schools and two elementary schools
• Interim Superintendent

Through these diverse experiences, Mike has gained a greater appreciation for the role public education plays in the lives of the students he serves.

Mike continues to serve as an adjunct instructor at Eastern Washington University so he can stay in touch and practice a variety of learning and teaching strategies to enhance student learning. He is a member of the Spokane Region Workforce Development Council and an active member of the Spokane Area Professional-Technical Education Council, and has facilitated and/or served on numerous community and school district committees throughout his career.

Mike has adopted a very simple leadership philosophy that is best summarized by a quote from Lao Tzu, “When the best leaders work is done, the people will say ‘we did it ourselves.’” He believes that active participation from all groups, focusing on the issues that can best meet the needs of our students, and not on the people who bring the issues forward, is what will drive positive growth in the Central Valley School District community.

Setting the direction for the Central Valley School District, Mike and the district administrative leadership team are working to implement the Nine Characteristics of Effective Schools. Focusing on the Nine Characteristics will not only help bring success for our students, but will help lead staff forward in their pursuit of adopting research-based, best practices that can be implemented in the classroom.

For more information, contact us.