The Hermiston School Board unanimously voted to select Tricia Mooney as the interim superintendent for the next 12-18 months.
Mooney will fill the role while Dr. Fred Maiocco serves extended active duty as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces.
The Board held interviews prior to its Monday work session. Mooney is currently the assistant superintendent of human resources for the Hermiston School District. Mooney started her education career in 1995 as a teacher in the Hermiston School District. She served as a Title I teacher at Sunset Elementary School and then as a sixth grade teacher at Sandstone Middle School.
In 2005, she was selected to be the principal of Rocky Heights Elementary School, and in 2007 she was promoted to middle school principal at Armand Larive Middle School. In 2008 she was hired by the Pendleton School District to be the director of human resources, and in 2009 was promoted to assistant superintendent.
Mooney earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Northwestern College in Iowa in 1995, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Washington State University in 2001, and is currently working on her doctorate.
Richard Rundhaug and “Buzz” Brazeau were interviewed via Skype, and Mooney was physically present. After the interviews the board members broke out into executive session where they went over the feedback that was provided by those in attendance and to further discuss their options.
“We are excited to have Mrs. Mooney on board with us, we look forward to seeing the district continue to move forward,” said Board Chairperson Karen Sherman.
