The Hermiston School District will hold a “meet & greet” session next week with the final candidates for the Sandstone Middle School principal position.
The event, which is open to the public, will be Thursday, May 15, from 4 to 5:40 p.m. in the Sandstone library.
One of the finalists will succeed Neely Kirwan, who will become the director of curriculum and instruction for the Hood River School District in July. Kirwan served as Sandstone principal for the past five years.
Those attending are asked to stay for duration in order to meet all three candidates and provide feedback to the selection committee through anonymous comment cards.
The applicant pool was narrowed to three final candidates using a thorough application screening process by members of the Sandstone staff and district administration. The final candidates are Lori Mills, Keith Holman, and Larry Usher.
Mills has six years of principal experience and currently serves as principal of Athena Weston Middle School in Weston. She has also has served as the district’s assessment coordinator, curriculum director, and played an integral role in the development and coordination of such initiatives as her current district’s talented and gifted programs and various curriculum adoptions.
Holman has worked nine years as a Career and Technical Education teacher in the Finley School District. Most recently, he has served as a part-time vice principal for the Finley middle and elementary schools. He has been actively involved in the district’s Advisory Committee, helping to guide and implement the district’s Professional Learning Communities Model and the rollout of the district’s revised evaluation processes.
Usher holds 11 years of teaching experience and nearly four years in school leadership, serving as a dean of students and, most recently, assistant principal for Sandstone Middle School. While at SMS, he has served as the coordinator of the student BEST committee, worked with staff to implement the 40 Developmental Assets Program, and assisted Kirwan in various curriculum and instructional initiatives.
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