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Sophia Aldous
IONE — There is a new face in the superintendent’s place after the Selkirk School District Board of Directors chose Joe West, one of three potential hires, as the next Superintendent of Selkirk School District, effective July 1.
For the past four years, West has been superintendent of the Paterson School District in Benton County. He has 20 years of experience in education, including working as a school psychologist, principal, athletic director and business manager.
A community forum was held Thursday, Feb. 5 at Selkirk Elementary so residents of the district could meet the applicants. The other two finalists were Troy Whittle, principal of the Discovery Virtual School in Clarkston, Wash. and Matthew Holshouser, Forks Elementary School principal for the Quillayute Valley School District, on the Olympic Peninsula.
“When you have your own kids, of course you want what’s best for them,” West said at the forum. “When you send them to school you want the adults there to be doing what’s best for them as well, so throughout my career I have done my best to do for students what I would want done for my own kids.”
During his tenure at Paterson, West said he gained experience in writing and securing grants, and expanded Career and Technical Education opportunities. Paterson received the National ESEA Distinguished Award for two consecutive years.
West said he was compelled to apply for the Selkirk Superintendent position due to the beauty of the area and outdoor recreational opportunities, while continuing to work for a small district in a closeknit community.
“I have an open-door policy, and I make it a point to be at community events,” West said. “I’m not someone who just sits in my office all day with the door closed and then is not to be seen on the weekends.”
The Board of Directors unanimously selected West during an executive session last Thursday evening following the forum.
“Mr. West has shown a clear commitment to student success, collaboration, innovation, and community partnership in his tenure at Paterson,” the Board of Directors said in a news release. “We are confident that he will seek stake-holder input and continue fiscal responsibility as he leads our district forward all while honoring the values and traditions that make Selkirk School District strong.”
West will take over for superintendent Nancy Lotze, who is retiring at the end of the school year. Lotze has worked at Selkirk School District for 38 years, the last 21 as superintendent.
“We are deeply grateful for her leadership, dedication, and lasting contributions to our students, staff, and community,” the Board of Directors said. “She leaves behind a strong foundation upon which we will continue to build.”
The Selkirk Board of Directors is comprised of Ryan Kiss, Chair, Rennie Pelkie, Vice Chair, Stephany Petrich, Mak Kalstrom and Jeremy Bonaker.
According to the website Open-Payrolls, as of 2023 the annual salary for the Selkirk School District is $145,772. The district has an enrollment of approximately 260 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
SOPHIA MATTICE-ALDOUS IS A MURROW NEWS FELLOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NEWSROOMS AT THE NEWPORT MINER AND RANGE MEDIA THROUGH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. HER REPORTING IS AVAILABLE FOR USE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS WITH CREDIT.
