After a weeks-long nationwide search, the Copper River School District hired a new superintendent on February 20. The School Board selected Therese Ashton from a group of three finalists. KCHU’s Shahmeer Azmat reports.
Click on his picture below to hear the audio. A written transcript of the story follows
Therese Ashton is a long-time Alaskan educator currently working as superintendent-principal in the Tanana City School District. Before that she worked for 16 years as a teacher and principal in the city of Wrangell. Ashton said she felt honored to be selected to head up the Copper River School District.
THERESE ASHTON: “I’m just very excited for this opportunity and I’m going to do my best to do what I’ve always done is work hard, listen lots and just be part of the community.”
After an extensive interview process consisting of community forums, staff surveys and site visits, the school board selected Ashton from among three final candidates. She signed a 3-year contract and is set to begin her work on July 1, replacing interim director Shaun Streyle. Ashton assured community members that her first priority is to get to know the district.
THERESE ASHTON: “It’s not really what I feel. They’re the ones who have been there. I’m going to really spend a lot of time listening to people and hearing what their views are because I’m the one who’s the newcomer. So I’m not going to decide for them at this point in time that I think I know what the issues are.”
This is the second superintendent search for the Copper River School District in 2 years. Both former position holders Tamara Van Whye and Michael Johnson went on to accept positions with the Alaska Department of Education. Jaime Matthews is Board Chair for the Copper River School District. She described why Therese Ashton was the right fit.
JAIME MATTHEWS: “She had a great personality, made several connections in our community as she was here. But I think the things that really stood out to the Board is her strength of community involvement and also just her communication skills. And we think both of those qualities will help her be successful in her position.”
|
|
Matthews said the superintendent search was a collaborative effort with communities within the school district.
JAIME MATTHEWS: “We have three unique districts. We have our Slana community which is up north, Kenny Lake which is more to the south and then Glenallen. So we had community meetings in all three districts just to say, ‘Hey, what are you guys looking for in the next superintendent?’”
The school district has a total enrollment of 450 students in three brick-and-mortar facilities as well as its online homeschool program. With no organized government in the district and declining enrollment, Matthews said Governor Mike Dunleavy’s proposed education cuts may affect the district.
JAIME MATTHEWS: “You know, the one thing that we try to keep in mind is it is a proposed budget and a lot can happen. But the initial impact to just our small school district is almost $1.4 million. And that’s out of a total of $7 million in budget. So we’re brainstorming now but there’s going to have to be some tough decisions made.”
Superintendent Therese Ashton was not asked about her perspective on the budget cuts. However she said that a collaborative effort with the community was her goal in tough times.
