The Newberg School District board of directors selected Kym LeBlanc-Esparza to serve as the district’s next superintendent via unanimous vote at a special meeting held Tuesday.

The board approved a three-year contract for LeBlanc-Esparza, who currently serves as the executive director of K-12 schools for 43,000-student Adams 12 Five Star Schools in suburban Denver.

LeBlanc-Esparza, 44, succeeds Paula Radich, who will retire at the end of June.

“Dr. LeBlanc-Esparza is a proven and successful leader of schools,” said school board chairwoman Melinda Van Bossuyt. “She has a depth of understanding about curriculum and instruction coupled with a history of making sure kids come first. I am delighted to welcome her to our community.”

The district search committee received 21 applications for the position before narrowing their list down to three finalists, with Blackfoot (Idaho) School District superintendent Scott Crane and Battle Ground, Wash., assistant superintendent David Gray also making the cut.

“It is a great honor to have been chosen to lead the Newberg public schools,” LeBlanc-Esparza said. “There is such a great pride and respect for the schools and educators in this community. This district already has many great things in place for kids. I look forward to getting to know the people in the community and working directly with the educators in the schools.”

In her current position, LeBlanc-Esparza leads and supervises K-12 principals in the Northglenn, Colo., district, including comprehensive high schools, middle and elementary schools, magnet schools and alternative education campuses.

LeBlanc-Esparza is responsible for about 15,000 students in her Colorado district and said she was drawn by size of the Newberg district, which has an enrollment of 5,084 for the 2011-2012 school year, according to the Oregon Department of Education database.

“I wanted to be in a smaller structure where I really felt like I could build some meaningful relationships and work with people in a way that I really can’t in a system that is as big as mine here,” LeBlanc-Esparza said. “That all added up to Newberg.”

LeBlanc-Esparza, who will start at her new position July 1, received her undergraduate degree from New Mexico State University - Las Cruces, holds a masters degree in administration and curriculum from the University of Texas - Odessa, and earned her doctorate in educational leadership and applied statistics at the University of Northern Colorado - Greeley.

Seth Gordon, Newberg Graphic