Four finalists — including an internal candidate — have made the cut to be considered as the next superintendent of Bainbridge Island public schools.
The Bainbridge Island School Board announced its final four of hopefuls to replace current Superintendent Faith Chapel, who announced late last year she will retire at the end of the school yard.
The finalists are:
• Peter Bang-Knudsen, assistant superintendent for administrative services for the Bainbridge Island School District;
• Molly Evans, assistant superintendent for educational services, Litchfield Elementary School District, Litchfield Park, Arizona;
• Steve Matthews, superintendent, Novi Community School District, Novi, Michigan; and
• Michael Tolley, associate superintendent for teaching and learning, Seattle Public Schools, Seattle.
“After reviewing the qualifications of 24 applicants from across the nation, and even a few from overseas, we feel these candidates represent a rich variety of leadership experiences that would benefit our district,” said School Board President Mev Hoberg.
The finalists will meet with members of the school board and stakeholder groups, as well as district staff and community members, in early April.
A community forum is planned for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at Bainbridge High.
The four will also take part in interviews on Tuesday, April 12, and Wednesday, April 13 on Bainbridge. Each finalist will participate in interviews with board directors and attend meetings with various stakeholder groups.
At the community forum, candidates will field questions from community members, who will also have an opportunity to provide written feedback.
“We have crafted a schedule that enables the community to meet all four candidates in one evening, so we hope people will take the time to come out and get to know them,” Hoberg said.
Bang-Knudsen grew up on Bainbridge Island and graduated from Bainbridge High. He joined the Bainbridge Island School District as associate superintendent of administrative services in 2010.
He earned his bachelor’s degree at Whitman College, master’s degree at Seattle University, and doctorate at the University of Washington.
Bang-Knudsen previously served the Bellevue School District for 17 years as teacher, curriculum developer and assistant principal. He was also principal at the Bellevue International School.
Evans, assistant superintendent of educational services for the Litchfield Elementary School District, grew up in a family of educators and spent her early career as an elementary school teacher. After pursuing a master’s degree in leadership, Evans served the district as a principal for eight years and opened a new school. She recently completed her dissertation defense for a doctorate in organizational leadership.
Matthews has served as superintendent of the Novi Community School District since 2011. Prior to that, he was superintendent of Grand Ledge Public Schools and director of curriculum and assessment for the Troy School District.
Matthews’ teaching career includes being an assistant professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Wayne State University. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington, a master’s degree in education from Texas Tech University and a doctorate from Wayne State University. He publishes a blog called The Superintendent’s Chair.
Tolley began his education career teaching marine biology and was an adjunct professor in the department of biology, College of Charleston. He was also a biotechnology education instructor at the Medical University of South Carolina.
In addition to his role as associate superintendent for Seattle Public Schools, Tolley served the district as director of high schools and executive director of schools for the southeast region. He has also spent more than 17 years as a high school principal and central office administrator.
Tolley has a bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston and a master’s degree from The Citadel.
The Bainbridge school district began its search for a new superintendent in November after Chapel said she would retire in June after eight years at the helm.
