Schools

LWSD Board Picks Preferred Superintendent Candidate

Dr. Traci Pierce, the current deputy superintendent, will be put forward to replace Dr. Chip Kimball in a series of public meetings.

Dr. Traci Pierce, the Lake Washington School District’s current deputy superintendent, has been unanimously selected as the preferred choice by the district’s board of directors to replace outgoing Supt. Dr. Chip Kimball.

At its meeting Monday night, the board voted to put forward Pierce, and ask for input on her candidacy, through a series of public events.

Board members stressed the need for continuity as the district pursues major initiatives, including the transition in grade configuration next fall and the creation of science, technology, engineering and math high school (STEM school) in Redmond.

Pierce has led some of these transitions, and board President of Kirkland said she had heard from the public that “people want things we have going forward to take place without a hitch. Don’t lose that momentum.”

Kimball, who will become the superintendent of the Singapore American School on July 1, said he supported the board’s decision.

“Traci is talented, motivated, and cares deeply about students,” he said. “She has experience as a classroom teacher, principal and district administrator. She has been in charge of a number of departments, most recently supervising all instructional services, including schools, as deputy superintendent. The Lake Washington School District will be in good hands under her leadership.”

The public meetings will likely take place in late January or early February, after the board meets again to plan and schedule them, said Kathryn Reith, district spokeswoman.

Pierce, 42, a Sammamish resident, began her career with the district teaching language arts and social studies at Inglewood Junior High in 1992. After six years in the classroom, she served as a district instructional technology staff development specialist for one year before returning to Inglewood as assistant principal. She was promoted to principal after just one year. Pierce returned to the central office to serve in several instructional leadership positions before being named chief schools officer in July 2007, and has served as deputy superintendent for instructional services since July 2010.

A native of Cour d'Alene, Idaho, Pierce is a graduate of the University of Washington, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and later her doctorate in Education, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
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Information for this report came from a Lake Washington School District press release.

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