He quit soon after taking job as superintendent. Did email on behalf of his kid play role?
Editor’s note: Justin Ainsworth was officially named the new Coos Bay School District superintendent on Monday, per a district Facebook post.
Wondering why North Thurston Public Schools’ newly-hired superintendent Justin Ainsworth resigned just weeks after accepting the position last month? The answer might lie in Coos Bay, Oregon.
According to a Facebook post, Ainsworth is a finalist for the superintendent job in the Coos Bay School District, which is located on the southern Oregon coast, about a two-hour drive from Eugene.
Ainsworth grew up in Coos Bay. He then taught history and coached football at Marshfield High School before leaving for a vice principal position in Alaska in 2013, the start of his career in administration.
Ainsworth did not provide a specific reason for resigning from the North Thurston job last month, citing family reasons.
“It is with deep regret that I resign effective immediately as superintendent of North Thurston Public Schools,” Ainsworth said in his email, a copy of which was shared with The Olympian.
“Over the past few weeks, I have faced unexpected challenges on the family front that have necessitated a reevaluation of my professional commitments.
“Since accepting the position, circumstances within my family have shifted significantly, making it clear that I cannot fulfill my duties as superintendent while also prioritizing my family’s well-being. This decision has been incredibly difficult, and I apologize for any disruption it may cause to the district and the community.
“Please know that my decision to resign is in no way a reflection of my high regard for NTPS or my enthusiasm for the role. I have been genuinely excited about the opportunity and have immense respect for the mission, vision and values of the district.”
The North Thurston Public Schools board moved quickly after Ainsworth’s resignation, voting 4-1 last Sunday to name longtime administrator Troy Oliver the next superintendent of the county’s largest school district.
HOOP DREAMS
Ainsworth might not have gotten off on the best foot. Days after accepting the job, an email he sent to district principals and athletic directors — which was obtained by The News Tribune — rubbed some people within the district’s athletic circle the wrong way. The district’s three comprehensive high schools are North Thurston, Timberline and River Ridge. All three schools compete in the South Sound Conference of the WIAA’s 3A classification, the second-largest classification in the state.
In the email, Ainsworth explains that his daughter, who is going into her junior year, plays AAU basketball and has drawn recruiting attention from a handful of Division I schools on the West Coast. He continues:
“As we transition to Lacey, we are starting to look at homes in the area, but we need to gather more information about the academic and basketball programs at your schools before purchasing a home,” the email states. “If possible, I would like to touch base over the phone this week or early next week to get more information. Given the importance of both academics and her future in basketball, we want to ensure she has the best possible experience.”
The email continues with Ainsworth asking coaches or athletic directors to call his cell at their convenience and says his daughter might attend an open gym at one of the schools while she’s in the Seattle area for AAU tournaments in the spring. He concludes the email by attaching his daughter’s Twitter/X handle.
Some people within the district, who spoke off the record to The News Tribune, felt the email was asking the three schools to compete for the opportunity to land Ainsworth’s daughter on their roster, essentially pitting them against each other.
Former Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma) athletic director Ed Ploof, who was involved with league, district and statewide high school athletics decisions in his 32 years as the school’s athletic director before retiring, has seen it all in high school athletics.
Reached by phone after a so-so round of golf on Friday, Ploof put himself back in the shoes of an athletic director. He said he wouldn’t have any issue with the messaging, just with how it was delivered. Ploof felt a few private phone calls would’ve been the more prudent route, rather than a district-wide email.
“Any parent has a right when they’re moving to look for a program that fits for their child,” Ploof said. “But the process he used was interesting. … To me, it’s, what advantages is that school going to get?
“In other words, I’m looking for a good fit for my daughter. If she goes to school A, what other advantages is that school going to get that schools B and C won’t, because of his daughter? It doesn’t seem real neutral, as neutral as you need to be as the superintendent of those three schools. … It doesn’t show very good judgment.”
A spokesperson from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association said the organization doesn’t involve itself with district-level leadership, so long as there’s no violation of WIAA handbook rules.
“The WIAA does not intercede or comment on how superintendents choose to lead their schools, so long as they are in alignment with the Association’s policies,” the spokesperson said.
Efforts to reach Ainsworth were unsuccessful. The News Tribune also contacted multiple coaches within the school district, who declined to speak on the record. District athletic director Haley Ortega also declined to comment, as did school board president Gretchen Maliska.
NTPS spokesperson Amy Blondin told The News Tribune she hadn’t seen the email but said it wasn’t the reason for Ainsworth’s abrupt departure.
“It had absolutely nothing to do with his resigning,” she said. “I have not actually seen the email. But generally speaking, we have three comprehensive high schools with excellent athletic programs.”
This story was originally published May 7, 2024 at 6:00 AM with the headline "He quit soon after taking job as superintendent. Did email on behalf of his kid play role?."
