Hood Canal selects leader

Lance Gibbon, a former superintendent of the Oak Harbor and Snoqualmie Valley school districts, will be the superintendent of the Hood Canal School District, pending a contract agreement.

On Monday evening, the Hood Canal School Board voted unanimously to hire Gibbon. He replaces Jose-de-Jesus Melendez, who resigned in February after seven months on the job to return to his family in Oregon. According to the district at the time, he was to complete the remainder of his contract on administrative leave.

The district has about 300 students in prekindergarten through eighth grade.

"The concensus regarding his positive attributes were: a thoughtful approach to issues, a commitment to collaboration and communication, and a relationship-oriented approach to leadership," School Board President Edie Reclusado wrote in an email to the Journal.

Pending contract agreement, Gibbon starts the job July 1, Reclusado wrote.

According to lancegibbon.com, Gibbon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education at Central Washington University, a master's in educational leadership and a doctorate in Education from Seattle Pacific University.

Gibbon spent 14 years in the Oak Harbor School District, including eight as the district's superintendent.

Gibbon was named superintendent of the Snoqualmie Valley School District in May 2021 and started the job July 1. According to a Dec. 20, 2022 article in the South Whidbey Record, Gibbon received $600,000 from the Snoqualmie Valley School District in exchange for his resignation the previous month. In the story, board members cited the lack of focus on "teaching and learning" as the reason for the separation.

Reclusado said the school board opted to hire a national superintendent search team, Hazard, Young, Attea Associates.

"They did a complete job of surveying key stakeholders, meeting with all staff members and our Skokomish tribal neighbors to develop a leadership profile so that the district was crystal clear in developing the characteristics and skills important to superintendent success in our community," Reclusado wrote.

On Monday, Gibbon visited the schools and met teachers, administrators, paraeducators, parents and other residents. The school board interviewed him for 2½ hours, Resclusado wrote.

"I was certainly drawn to Hood Canal by the quality of life," Gibbon wrote in an email Wednesday morning to the Journal. "Living in a beautiful place is important to my wife and me and you couldn't ask for much better than here."

Gibbon wrote that he also likes the small size of the district and the "culture and diversity" of the school. He stated he is excited to work with the Skokomish Tribe.

"But, the most important thing for me in a job is being in a place where I can serve and make a positive difference for kids," he wrote, "That means it's got to be a great fit. Based on everything I learned about Hood Canal and what they needed, it seemed like my beliefs, background and style might be a match."

According to his website, Gibbon is a longtime musician professional musician and producer who plays keyboards at his church. He and his wife Michelle enjoy spending time with family, camping in their retro trailer and attending live music events.