After about five months of looking for a new superintendent for Aberdeen School District (ASD), the list is down to two people, according to the district.
Aberdeen’s school board discussed narrowing the list during a special meeting on Tuesday, March 1, which was entirely held in executive session.
The meeting was held to evaluate the qualifications of applicants for the superintendent position.
One of the finalists, Nikki L. Grubbs, is the superintendent of the Hood Canal School District (HCSD) in Shelton. Grubbs will be in the district on Tuesday, March 8.
The other finalist comes from a bit farther away.
Jeffrey D. Thake, was most recently the superintendent of the Williston Basin School District (WBSD) in Williston, North Dakota. Thake will be in the district on Thursday, March 10.
Grubbs has held a superintendent role for three years at HCSD. Before she earned the top job at HCSD, she was executive director of Teaching and Learning at Educational Service District 105 in Yakima. Before that, she was the principal at Harbour Pointe Middle School in Mukilteo. Grubbs also has experience as both an assistant principal and as a science teacher.
Grubbs earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Boise State University. Grubbs also earned master’s degrees in Biology and Educational Administration from Washington State University.
But, Grubbs is not just an educator. She and her husband, Gerry, raised four children.
Thake, the former superintendent at WBSD, held the top job during a district merger between two Williston school districts that became one. Thake’s other past experience includes the superintendent role at the Amboy School District in Amboy, Illinois, principal at Amboy High School and associate high school principal in the Sterling Public School District — in Sterling, Illinois.
Thake earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. He earned his Master of Arts degree and his Doctorate in Educational Administration from Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois.
When the finalists make their rounds through the school district, they’ll meet with the administrators, union leaders, staff and students. They’ll also interview with the school board.
Residents can meet the finalists at 6 p.m., on the day each candidate is scheduled to see the district, inside the Aberdeen High School auditorium.
Another part that will play into the board’s decision will be comments from those who speak to the candidates. Their feedback will be shared with the school board.
Alicia Henderson, Aberdeen’s current superintendent, announced she would retire after the 2021-22 school year.
Her contract expires on Thursday, June 30. Henderson, who has served as superintendent for the district since March 2017, previously told The Daily World she made a 5-year commitment to ASD.
The district hired McPherson and Jacobson, LLC., a consulting firm, to help with the nationwide search for a new superintendent.
The firm responded to a district request for proposal on Oct. 5, 2021, in a letter to ASD’s board of directors.
“The enclosed proposal describes the professional services McPherson and Jacobson LLC., will provide Aberdeen School District in ensuring your superintendent search secures quality leadership for the district,” the firm’s letter states.
Nathan McCaan, a consultant with McPherson and Jacobson LLC., was in attendance, via Zoom, with ASD’s school board on Tuesday, Jan. 4.
During the meeting, McCaan said how the superintendent candidate’s “life’s work needs to be in (Grays) Harbor.”
Jennifer Durney, school board president of Aberdeen School District, said she and the other members of the board are looking forward to meeting Grubbs and Thake in person.
“We hope district staff and community members are able to take part in the process and give us their feedback as well,” Durney said.
