In the News: Finalists for Dundee principal

After receiving 62 applications, Newberg School District administrators have whittled the list of candidates to succeed Leslie Carsley as principal of Dundee Elementary down to three.

The three finalists — Kimberly Miles, Shanda Sewell and Reed Langdon — will participate in a forum with parents and staff beginning at 5:30 p.m. April 1 at the school.

The candidates will give a 10-minute presentation before answering questions for 20 minutes. Participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback to Superintendent Kym LeBlanc-Esparza, who will make the final choice on the hire.

Miles currently serves as principal at Roosevelt Elementary School in Medford. A native of the Hillsboro area, Miles has held her current position at the Title 1 school for the past three years.

A former teacher in Forest Grove, Sewell is a K-6 principal in Banks, while Langdon currently teaches fourth grade at Dundee. Langdon has also served in a number of leadership roles in the Newberg School District over the past few years including on the Teaching and Learning Council, the Technology Committee and the district Professional Learning Team.

Of the 62 applicants, LeBlanc-Esparza and assistant superintendent Dave Parker selected six candidates to be interviewed by one panel composed of licensed, classified, parent and special education representatives from Dundee and another with district senior staff.

Conducting the Dundee in­terview were Mary Jane Bachmeier-Swanson, Heather Brown, Debbie Adamski, Shelley Thomas and Rick Harris. Candice Pelt, Gwen Gardner, Claudia Stewart, Don Staples and Mikaela Schamp conducted the senior staff interview.
Both groups merged to deliberate and select the final group of candidates, who perform final interviews and conduct site visits before making a determination.

Carsley, who announced her retirement in February, served as principal at Dundee the last two years and in June will cap her career as a full-time employee in the Newberg School District after 39 years.

“I spent twelve years of my teaching profession here, and it has been a great community to finish my full time career.”

“While I don’t know that full time retirement is on the horizon, it is time to pursue other part-time possibilities that may be out in the community or surrounding areas, or just enjoy life and all that it holds for my family and I,” Carsley said in a release to Dundee parents. “Thanks for working alongside me to provide a wonderful place for teaching and learning to happen.”

Written by Seth Gordon, Newberg Graphic