3 finalists for Tumwater School District superintendent to visit next week
Three candidates for Tumwater School District superintendent will visit the district next week, after the names of the finalists were announced on Monday.
The Tumwater School Board recently conducted preliminary interviews to permanently fill the position of superintendent left vacant by Sean Dotson. Dotson announced last May he was resigning to take a human resources position in the North Thurston School District, and Carole Meyer has been serving as interim superintendent.
The finalists are Kevin Bogatin from North Bend in Oregon, Erin Murphy from Bainbridge Island, and Sarah Jarnagin of Tooele County in Utah. They’re each scheduled to visit the district on a specific day, stopping by schools and meeting students and staff. They’ll each end the day with a Community Forum that will be conducted at 5:15 p.m. that day in person in the District Office Board room at 621 Linwood Ave. SW., and live streamed on the district’s YouTube channel, a school district news release says.
People attending in person will be able to submit questions before the event starts. At the end of each forum, people will be asked to give the board feedback on each candidate.
Kevin Bogatin
Bogatin will visit Monday, March 6.
Bogatin is currently the superintendent of the North Bend School District in Oregon, where he’s held the position for four years. He was previously the assistant superintendent in Corvallis, Oregon, for eight years. He also served as a principal after starting his career as an elementary teacher in Oregon and Arizona.
Bogatin has a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Phoenix and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Northern Iowa.
In his preliminary interview, Bogatin said the more he learns about Tumwater, the more excited he is about the prospect of being there.
“I am an outdoor person and Tumwater is a beautiful community and is a place where my family wants to call home,” he said. “More importantly, I am drawn to a community that supports public education and celebrates its students. I believe my background and experience aligns with the mission of the district as we work together to ensure every student meets their potential and has the knowledge and skills to be successful graduates and beyond.”
Erin Murphy
Students and staff will meet Murphy on Tuesday, March 7.
Murphy has been the deputy superintendent of the Bainbridge Island School District for seven years. She was previously the principal of Alderwood Middle School in the Edmonds School District for seven years, and before that the assistant principal at Mountlake Terrace High School in Snohomish County for three years. She was a teacher in the Poulsbo School District for eight years.
She has a doctorate in educational leadership and a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Washington State University. According to the district’s website, Murphy completed a superintendent’s certification program at WSU. She has served as the lead bargainer for the Bainbridge Island district as it works with labor partners.
In her preliminary interview, Murphy said she believes ensuring educational equity should be at the foundation and built upon.
“The Tumwater School District has a long tradition of excellence, with passionate staff dedicated to serving and supporting all learners, talented and thoughtful students, and a community that supports and believes in their schools and the district,” she said.
Sarah Jarnagin
Sarah Jarnagin will visit the district Wednesday, March 8.
Jarnagin has been the Stansbury Area Director for the Tooele County School District in Utah for two years. Before that, she was an assistant professor at Utah State University in school leadership for a year.
Jarnagin was also the director of secondary school in Idaho Falls for four years, as well as a middle school principal in Texas and Idaho for a total of 11 years. Before that, she was an elementary school teacher for five years.
She has a doctorate and a master’s degree in school leadership from Sam Houston State University and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from McNeese State University. According to the district’s website, she’s currently involved in an effort between the Utah Center of Educational Leadership and the Utah State Board of Education to revise the state’s leadership standards to align with national leadership standards and practices.
In her preliminary interview, Jarnagin said she is most attracted to TSD because of its diverse student population, consummate staff and the supportive community and board.
“When asked in my interview, ‘Why Tumwater?’ I replied, ‘Why not?’” she said. “It’s a treasured district in a strong community and located in a gorgeous area.”
For more information about the candidates and to watch their preliminary interviews, visit the school district’s website.
This story was originally published February 28, 2023 at 2:04 PM.
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