Granite Falls School District selects principal from Eastern Washington as new superintendent

Published 12:01 am Friday, May 20, 2011

GRANITE FALLS — A new superintendent has been hired for the Granite Falls School District.

Linda Hall, 53, was unanimously selected to the position this week by the school board. She is set to start work July 1 and will receive an annual salary of $132,000.

Hall has worked since 1996 as the student services director and special services principal for the Clarkston School District in Eastern Washington. She served as the assistant director of special services in that district before taking on her current role.

She started teaching special education in the district in 1986 and was an assistant elementary athletic coordinator and elementary teacher for the Kendrick Joint School District in Kendrick, Idaho, before moving to Washington.

“I worked my way up in the (Clarkston School) District,” Hall said. “I was ready to go to another district, and when I was looking at other districts I looked at websites and the (Granite Falls School District) mission of students reaching their greatest potential really fits into what I think.”

The school board decided to conduct a search for a new superintendent without a consultant in February following the announcement of Superintendent Karen Koschak’s retirement. Board members approved Hall’s contract Wednesday night.

School board member Rick Short on Wednesday called Koschak the finest administrator he’s worked with so far and added that he feels Hall will continue to move the district forward.

“This is the fifth superintendent I’ve hired, and we’ve had a pretty good track record,” he said. “(Hall) is the best fit for the district at this time.”

The process of hiring a new superintendent was a grueling but exhilarating process, board President Rebecca Loney said.

“One of the main components was the input that we sought and received from our community and our staff,” she said.

Koschak said she is pleased with the board’s decision for the new superintendent.

“She will carry on the work we have started here,” she said.

Hall earned her superintendent certification in 2004. She has a bachelor of science in special education and elementary education and a master’s degree in special education administration from the University of Idaho.

Hall visited Granite Falls for the first time May 4 and the area “looked like home,” she said. She described herself as an outdoors person who enjoys running, hiking and snow skiing. She has been married to her husband, Leon, for 24 years. They have three adult daughters and six grandchildren.

Hall added that she is excited to begin her new role and learn 3,000 student names. She believes a focus on student learning in the district is critical.

“I think (the district) is heading in that direction,” Hall said. “We can always focus on better test scores and getting more students into college.”

Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.