PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend School Board plans to promote an assistant superintendent to fill the superintendent role for next year.
The school board voted unanimously Thursday night to offer the job to Sandy Gessner-Crabtree, who has served for the past two years as the district’s assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and special education.
The contract likely will be for a one-year appointment, said Sarah Rubenstein, the school district’s communications director.
The timing is intended to give the school board additional time to consider a process to replace John Polm, who will leave the district June 30 and become the superintendent for the Puyallup School District, Rubenstein said.
A final decision is pending contract negotiations for board approval, she said.
The school board is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. March 5 in Room S-11 at the Gael Stuart Building, 1610 Blaine St.
Gessner-Crabtree has 32 years of experience in education, most of which has been spent in elementary school classrooms at all levels, according to a news release from the school district.
Before she was hired in Port Townsend, she was the executive director of curriculum, instruction and assessment at Olympic Educational Service District 114, the release said.
Rubenstein said she would begin her new role July 1 once the school board approves a contract.
“She’s been leading some important work across the district and has been working closely with administrators and the school board during last year and half, and she will be able to continue that same work in her role as superintendent,” Rubenstein said.
Gessner-Crabtree was the only candidate the school board discussed during the public meeting, she added.
“In Sandy Gessner, we have the benefit of a strong instructional leader who understands the district’s work and cares deeply about our staff and students,” Jennifer James-Wilson, school board president, said in a press release.
“We feel very fortunate that she is willing to step into the role for the next year and provide a continuum of leadership.
“I am confident she is the right person to carry on the high level of work being done in the district during this transitional year.”
Polm will continue to serve as superintendent for the remainder of the school year.
When he leaves, he will be going from a school district with an average enrollment of about 1,200 students to one with more than 22,250 students, the second largest in Pierce County.
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Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 6, or at bmclean@peninsuladailynews.com.