NMSD search nears end: Meet superintendent finalists tonight

The North Mason School District has chosen three finalists for superintendent following an extensive search that began in August, the board of directors announced in a news release Jan. 23.

The candidates are Benjamin Gauyan, assistant superintendent of Stanwood-Camano School District in Stanwood, Jeff Hardesty, superintendent of Oroville School District in Oroville, and Kristine Michael, superintendent of Northridge Local School District in Northridge, Ohio.

All the candidates have Doctor of Education degrees.

Gauyan has more than 30 years of education experience, according to the release.

He began his career as a paraprofessional at San Diego Unified School District in 1993 and earned a master’s degree in education from Seattle Pacific University in 2001. Gauyan worked as an English language learner teacher, dean of students and principal in Highland Public Schools, the release states. He completed a doctorate in education from the University of Washington in 2009.

Guyan worked for Tacoma Public Schools, first as director of elementary education and then as director of secondary education from 2010-2015.

Then he returned to Highland Public Schools as the executive director of instructional leadership. He has been assistant superintendent of Stanwood-Camano School District since 2022.

“Dr. Gauyan’s professional experience includes redefining and opening access to the Highly Capable Program at Stanwood-Camano Island School District, rolling out Title I preschools and summer school programs at Tacoma Public Schools and launching Highline Virtual Academy and Maritime High School at Highline Public Schools,” according to the release.

Hardesty has worked in public schools since 1997, beginning his teaching career at Moses Lake School District, where he was later vice principal and principal, and Midway Middle School.

His 1999 master’s degree is from Eastern Washington University in curriculum and instruction.

Hardesty was a principal in Tonasket School District for 13 years. In 2018, he received a doctorate in education from Washington State University and has been the superintendent of Oroville School District for the past nine years.

“Dr. Hardesty’s professional experience includes closing achievement gaps within his first three years of leadership at Oroville School District, which saw three of its schools achieve School of Distinction status during his tenure. He has experience successfully passing operational levies, implementing strategic plans and actively re-engaging families back into schools, re-enrolling 60 students and their families back in Oroville Schools that had previously left the District,” according to the news release.

Michael has more than 30 years of experience in education, starting with teaching third grade at the International School of Luxembourg, the release states.

She taught for 15 years in Granville, Ohio, and during that time earned a master’s degree in education theory and practice from The Ohio State University.

She worked in the Granville Exempted Village School District, including four years as a curriculum coordinator.

Michael then was the curriculum director at the International School of Dakar, Senegal.

For the past 10 years, she has been a director of curriculum and student services, assistant superintendent and superintendent at various Ohio schools.

She has been the superintendent at Northridge School District since 2023.

“Dr. Michael’s professional achievements as Superintendent include closing achievement gaps via literacy scores, facilitating a public-private partnership that led to raising $1.75 million for a $7.9 million athletic stadium project and creating a K-5 STEM program,” according to the news release.

NMSD current superintendent, Dana Rosenbach, will retire in June.

Candidates will meet this week with staff and have final interviews.

A public forum to meet the candidates is from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight in the North Mason High School Auditorium, 150 E North Mason School Road, Belfair.