During a special board meeting Monday, the Kent School Board voted to approve the appointment of retired Puyallup School District Superintendent Dr. Tony Apostle as interim superintendent of Kent School District.
Dr. Apostle retired in 2012 after 37 years as a teacher, coach, principal, and administrator for schools in Washington State and eight years as chief of Puyallup schools. He led Puyallup School District through a period of unprecedented student achievement, including remarkable gains in math and science.
“We are fortunate to be able to find such a quality leader in Dr. Apostle and welcome him into the Kent School District family,” said Board President Debbie Straus. “He comes highly regarded in the state’s educational community for his expertise in school financial accountability, staff leadership, and cultural responsiveness.”
Dr. Apostle is scheduled to begin as Kent School District’s interim superintendent on November 25, 2014. He will serve until a new permanent superintendent is named. As interim superintendent, Dr. Apostle replaces outgoing Superintendent Dr. Edward Lee Vargas, who announced in October he will step down to serve as executive vice president of AVID, a national nonprofit college readiness program, and soon will begin working full time in California. Vargas will provide necessary consultation during the time of transition.
“I look forward to joining Kent School District’s strong leadership team and supportive community,” Dr. Apostle said. “I will continue Dr. Vargas’s student-focused approach to decision making and will work to maintain and build upon the incredible successes of the Kent School District.”
The School Board also voted Monday to approve a contract with Ray and Associates Inc. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to conduct a national search for a permanent superintendent. Ray and Associates specializes in educational executive leadership candidate search and recruitment for public schools, private schools, and higher education institutions.
The search process will include a national advertisement campaign to attract the highest-quality candidates and a thorough candidate screening and vetting process, as well as a comprehensive series of interviews, involving staff, students, families, and community members.
