Renton School Teachers, Public to Meet Superintendent Finalists This Week

Candidates for Renton Schools superintendent will each spend a day in the district this week. Each candidate will spend a day meeting with district staff and parents, city council members, business leaders and others, culminating in a public meeting at one of three elementary schools. Community members are invited to attend and meet the candidates, and to ask questions that help guide the Board in making the final decision.

• Monday, April 1, 7 p.m., Cascade Elementary School cafeteria, 16022 116th Ave SE, Renton (map it)—Candidate: Dr. Merri Rieger, chief student achievement officer, Kent School District: Dr. Rieger has also served as assistant superintendent for learning and school improvement in the Kent School District, high school principal in the Bremerton School District, and dean of students and high school teacher in the Auburn School District.  Dr. Rieger earned her B.A., M.A., and Ph.D at Washington State University.
• Tuesday, April 2, 7 p.m., Bryn Mawr Elementary School cafeteria, 8212 S 118th St, Seattle (map it)— Candidate: Dr. Lester “Flip” Herndon, Jr., superintendent, Bremerton School District:  Dr. Herndon has also served as assistant superintendent of K-12 support in the Tacoma School District; principal in the Shoreline School District; and social studies teacher in school districts in Connecticut and New Jersey. His B.A. was earned at Whitman College, his M.Ed. at Harvard and his PhD. at the University of Washington.
• Thursday, April 4, 7 p.m., Kennydale Elementary School cafeteria, 1700 NE 28th St, Renton (map it)— Candidate: Dr. Crystalee Sweeting, assistant superintendent for instruction, learning, curriculum and assessment in the Puyallup School District: Dr. Sweeting has also served as executive director of special services, Title I/LAP, ELL, and health services as well as elementary principal in the Puyallup School District; and special education teacher and elementary teacher in Ellensburg and Federal Way. Dr. Sweeting earned her B.A. at Central Washington University, and both her M.Ed and her Ed.D. at the University of Washington.

Contract negotiations and board appointment of the new superintendent is planned for mid-April; the new superintendent will begin work July 1, 2013.