1 Finalist Tops List to Head Issaquah Schools
By Rachel Tuinstra, Seattle Times
Mar. 2–The Issaquah School Board has narrowed its search for a new superintendent to a single top candidate, Kelt Cooper, who has more than 10 years of experience as a superintendent in the Southwest.
Cooper is a doctoral candidate — focusing on curriculum and instruction — and an adjunct professor at New Mexico State University. He last served as superintendent at Nogales Unified School District in Arizona from 2000 to 2005. He was also a superintendent of two Texas school districts from 1994 to 2000.
Cooper was among six semifinalists School Board members interviewed Feb. 23 and 24. At a Monday meeting in executive session, board members ranked each candidate they interviewed.
Cooper received 24 of a possible 25 points, board President Jan Woldseth said. The next-closest candidate received 14 points, making Cooper a “runaway” leading candidate, Woldseth said.
“What made him stand out to me was his response to questions about student achievement,” Woldseth said. “He said ‘That is my game.’ He absolutely lit up.”
In January, Cooper was among five finalists for superintendent of the Great Falls School District in Montana. Board members there picked another candidate because they thought she was a better fit for their district, said David Reeves, Great Falls School Board chairman.
“He [Cooper] interviewed very well,” Reeves said Thursday. “I don’t recall anything negative about Kelt. He presented himself well, very professional.”
During his years of service, Cooper was named superintendent of the year for his school region in Texas, a top-five superintendent of the year for the state of Texas and a leader in public education for Arizona.
Issaquah board members will make a decision about offering Cooper the job at an upcoming meeting, Woldseth said.
Cooper was among 38 people nationally who applied for the job to replace Janet Barry, who plans to retire at the end of June. The School Board hired Iowa-based Ray & Associates in August to conduct a nationwide search for a replacement.
The district has 15,872 students and about 840 classroom teachers, according to the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Rachel Tuinstra: 206-515-5637 or rtuinstra@seattletimes.com
Meet the candidate
A reception will be held to introduce superintendent candidate Kelt Cooper from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the school district’s administration building, 565 N.W. Holly St. A coffee meet-and-greet will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Eagle Room at City Hall, 130 E. Sunset Way.
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