News
Doug Johnson to be New Dayton School Superindendent
Doug Johnson
The Dayton School Board has selected Doug Johnson of Odessa, WA, as the new Superintendent of the Dayton School District. Johnson has been with the Odessa School District for the past 12 years. He has been Superintendent for the past six years and was the secondary principal for six years before that.
As this paper went to press, Johnson was still in final contract negotiations with the School Board. They hoped to have a contract in place prior to May 1st.
Johnson grew up in Chehalis, WA, and received his bachelors and masters degrees at Washington State University. "I moved back to the west side when I started my teaching career," says Johnson, "but I missed the sun and dry weather in eastern Washington."
Johnson will officially begin his tenure in Dayton on July 1st. He hopes to visit Dayton several times prior to that date to meet with faculty and staff and work with outgoing superintendent Rich Stewart on the transition.
"I still have a lot of responsibilities in Odessa, of course," says Johnson, noting that the Odessa district is in the middle of its budgeting process for the 2009 / 2010 school year. "But I plan to be in Dayton as much as I can."
Johnson was selected after a comprehensive search process which began in February. Consultant Bill Jordan was hired to help guide the School Board through the search and hiring process. According to School Board Chair Steve Martin, 19 applications were received for the open position. "All of the board members put in many long hours in the search process," says Martin. "I'm very pleased with our selection and know Doug Johnson will be a great addition to our school and our community."