Superintendent Finalists

The Central Valley School District Board of Directors has selected three finalists for the position of superintendent of schools, as the district continues the search to replace Michael O. Pearson, who will retire on June 30.

From an original pool of 18 candidates, the three finalists are:

	Donald (Mick) Miller (Central Valley visit scheduled April 15) - Miller has been the Deer Park School District superintendent since 2004. The Deer Park district serves 2,350 students with five schools. Miller began his teaching career in 1983 at North Central High School in Spokane where he later worked as assistant principal (1990 – 1994). He then served as principal of Kelso High School (1994 – 1996) and Mead High School (1996 – 2004) before becoming the Deer Park superintendent. Miller holds an undergraduate degree from Washington State University and earned his masters degree from Whitworth College. He received his Superintendent Credential from Washington State University in 2000.
	Benjamin Small (Central Valley visit scheduled April 16) - Small has been the superintendent of Columbia School District (Burbank, WA) since 2003. The Columbia School District serves 960 students with three schools. Small began his teaching career in 1990 at Garrison Middle School in the Walla Walla School District. He then served as principal of Columbia Middle School in the Columbia School District (1996 – 2003) and Executive Director for Teaching and Learning (2002-2003) before his promotion to superintendent. Small holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Eastern Washington University. He received his Superintendent Credential from Washington State University in 2004.
	Pete Lewis (Central Valley visit scheduled April 17) – Lewis has been the Clarkston School District superintendent since 2003. The Clarkston district serves 2,689 students with seven schools. Lewis began his teaching career in Spokane Public Schools in 1982 where he was a teacher and activities coordinator at Libby Middle School. He then served as assistant principal and principal of two Spokane middle schools (1987-1998) and two Mead high schools (1998 – 2003) before assuming the leadership of Clarkston School District. Lewis earned his undergraduate and graduate degree at Whitworth College. He is currently a Washington State University (WSU) doctoral candidate. He received his Superintendent Credential from WSU in 2002.

Each finalist has been invited back to the district for one full day of school tours, meetings with community members and groups of employees, as well as a second interview with Board members. Central Valley students, parents and residents are strongly encouraged to meet the superintendent candidates during a series of Community Forums to be held on April 15, 16 and 17 from 5 – 6 p.m. in the theatre at Central Valley High School, 821 S. Sullivan Road. Each candidate will answer questions from community participants who may complete feedback forms to share their thoughts about each finalist with the Board.

The Central Valley School District Board of Directors has scheduled a special meeting on April 18 to evaluate the qualifications of each finalist and is expected to make their final selection of the next Central Valley Superintendent of Schools.