The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

The Dayton School Board formally announced three finalists have been chosen to move forward in the search process to replace retiring Superintendent Doug Johnson.

The three candidates selected are Effie Dean, Guy Strot, and Andie Webb. The chosen candidate would begin their duties on July 1. All three of the candidates are also currently working in the state of Washington.

The three candidates will participate in final district interviews with Dayton’s administrative staff and school members all day on Monday Feb. 10. The public portion of the interview process will commence at 6:30 p.m. for an hour in the Dayton High School Auditorium. Questions from the community can be asked at that time following opening statements from each of the three candidates.

The school board will deliberate following the community portion of the interview. The intent is to make a formal announcement identifying the successful candidate at the school board meeting Wednesday Feb. 19 at its monthly meeting in the School Board room on second street next to the high school.

Dr. Effie J. Dean has 29 years of experience in education, most of which has been spent serving rural districts in Washington, including Davenport School District and Reardan-Edwall School District. She is currently Assistant Superintendent at Royal School District and has a doctorate in educational leadership from Washington State University. Her mission in education has been “to improve the academic success of ALL children.”

Mr. Guy Strot has 17 years of experience in education. He is currently in his fifth year as a principal at Kalama School District, and previously served as a teacher and principal in the Lind Ritzville Cooperative Schools. He has a Masters of Teaching from Concordia University. His philosophy in education is to provide “whatever it takes for the students to be successful.”

Dr. Andie Webb has 25 years of experience in education, with 11 as a high school teacher and 14 as an administrator. She is currently an elementary school principal at Hoquiam School District. In addition to serving students across Washington and parts of Oregon throughout her career, she has worked internationally at American international schools in The Kingdom of Bahrain and Jordan. She earned her doctorate in educational leadership from Washington State University. Her personal goal is to “serve and celebrate those around me and be accessible, as well as visible throughout the school and community.”

The School Board used Educational Service District 123 based in Pasco to conduct the superintendent search. ESD serves 23 school districts in Southeastern Wash. and is a not-for-profit, legislatively mandated organization.