Renton School Board selects new superintendent
Dr. Mary Alice Heuschel will take office on July 1

Friday, March 24, 2006—The Renton School District Board of Directors has selected a new superintendent to replace Dr. Dolores Gibbons who will retire at the end of this school year after nine years as superintendent of Renton Schools and nearly 40 years in education.

Renton’s newly-named superintendent is Dr. Mary Alice Heuschel, currently deputy superintendent in the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), Washington state’s education office.

Dr. Heuschel will take office in Renton on July 1.

Dr. Heuschel previously served as assistant superintendent for curriculum at the state’s education office; intermediate school principal in the Yelm School District; assessment specialist in the education department in Hawaii; teacher at West Point Military Academy; teacher in Department of Defense schools in Europe; and special education teacher.

In announcing the decision, School Board President Al Talley said, “Dr. Heuschel brings great ideas, educational vision and is focused and passionate about students.”

Dr. Heuschel holds a doctorate degree in education leadership from Seattle Pacific University and a master’s degree in special education from Northwestern University. She has been recognized with two leadership awards by the Association of Washington School Principals and the Washington Association of School Administrators and is a member of several state and national educational research and leadership associations.

Dr. Heuschel was recommended for the Renton job by State Senator Rosemary McAuliffe, Dr. Terry Bergeson, superintendent of the state’s education system, Seattle Schools Superintendent Raj Manhas, and others including Dr. Thelma Jackson who said of Dr. Heuschel, “The courageous and visionary leadership that (Dr. Heuschel) would bring is important for the education future of your community.”

As one of three top candidates for superintendent, Dr. Heuschel this week met with numerous community members and business leaders, as well as parents, teachers, staff and students to discuss her qualifications and answer questions ranging from her leadership philosophy to why she chose to apply for the position.

After each session, participants offered school board members their opinion about whether candidates were the right fit for Renton by using a touch-pad device to answer questions projected on a screen. The technology, known as Strategic Listening, was instituted as part of the 2004 voter-approved technology and school construction bond measure and allows instant public input on any subject at meetings or by telephone. Ninety-five percent of participants in the superintendent search process said the technology was a useful and gratifying way in which to offer their input.

Twenty-three applications for Renton’s superintendent position were received from candidates from eight states. After review and deliberation, the board narrowed the list to eight applicants who were interviewed to further trim the list down to the final three candidates. Each of those candidates met with groups of community and district staff members throughout the week.