DAYTON – Parents and community members met Monday and Tuesday evenings with all four of Dayton’s secondary school principal candidates advanced to stage two of the hiring process by the selection committee last week. The candidates included Paul Shaber, Guin Joyce, Randy Hoover, and Kate Wenzl, who is the district’s interim secondary principal.

Following a brief biographical introduction, the candidates answered audience questions for approximately 45 minutes each. The community members present – about 12 both Monday and Tuesday evenings – were then asked to fill out anonymous feedback forms requesting they describe the strengths of the candidate and any concerns regarding the candidate’s ability to be effective as Dayton’s secondary principal.

Dayton School District began its search for a permanent principal for the junior high and high school this summer after former principal, Andy Maheras, resigned in July after four years to take a job in the Goldendale School District. Wenzl, former principal and administrator from the Port Angeles School District, was selected by the school board as interim secondary principal for the 2014-15 school year.

In November, the school board held public meetings offering the public, students, and district employees a chance to get to know Wenzl and ask her questions. Then in December, the district announced it would interview additional candidates for the post.

This week the candidates met with students, teachers, staff and other administrators in addition to the public. The selection committee plans to have a recommendation ready to present to the superintendent by Thursday, March 12, with the potential announcement of the successful candidate for the permanent position at the regular school board meeting on Wednesday, March 18. See Candidate Bios Page 6