The Sitka School Board has chosen a new superintendent. In an executive session on Saturday (1-20-24) the board selected Dr. Deidre Jenson as the sole finalist from a group of nine applicants.
Jenson was hired on as the District’s assistant superintendent last year to work alongside interim superintendent Steve Bradshaw. Bradshaw came out of retirement to fill the role in early 2023 after Frank Hauser resigned to take a job with the Juneau School District. Jenson filled in for Bradshaw in the superintendent role last fall while he was on medical leave.
A letter from School Board President Tristan Guevin says that, of the nine applicants, Jenson was, “clearly the most qualified and well-suited to the position.” Guevin wrote that Sitka is fortunate to have Jenson as a leader in the coming years. “We are confident that Deidre will bring stability and continuity to our district, a wealth of relevant experiences, knowledge, and skills, a renewed energy, and excellent qualifications,” he said.
Before Jenson came to Sitka, she was a principal and interim superintendent in the Southeast Island School District. She’s also worked in education in Deering, Wrangell and Kenai. She earned her doctorate of education from Gonzaga University School of Leadership Studies.
The names of the other eight applicants were not released to the public. School Board President Guevin says the school board plans to make an official job offer to Jenson and negotiate her contract at a special meeting. That meeting has now been scheduled for January 25.
