Thank you to everyone who met the two superintendent candidate finalists and offered feedback on Tuesday and Wednesday. Your input was a significant factor in guiding the School Board as they voted unanimously to offer Dr. Stephen Rasmussen the position last night.

Dr. Rasmussen has verbally accepted the job, and he and the Board will now work on a contract agreement before the Board’s next business meeting on Wednesday, April 25.

Rasmussen has served as superintendent of the Franklin Pierce School District for 15 years; before then, he was superintendent of the Deer Park School District for three years. He holds a doctorate in education and a master’s degree in vocational education administration. In 2002, he was named state Superintendent of the Year and was a finalist for National Superintendent of the Year.

Board members lauded Rasmussen’s emphasis on being a “transformational leader” who aims to elevate everyone’s performance in schools. During his daylong visit yesterday with the Issaquah School District community, he often spoke of closing the achievement gap and pushing every student to reach their potential, the Board said.