GRANITE FALLS — Superintendent Linda Hall has decided to retire after eight years leading the Granite Falls School District.
Her final day is scheduled for June 30, a couple of weeks after the last day of the school year.
The district’s board of directors plans to interview three consulting firms at its Wednesday meeting to find candidates for the position. Board members also expect to determine when a new person will be hired.
Hall, 61, knew since she was little that she wanted to work in schools.
“I would line the dolls up and teach them,” she said. “Once I had siblings I was teaching them, too. I’ve just always been an educator.”
Her career started as an elementary school teacher in Kendrick, Idaho, more than three decades ago. After about six years there, she moved to Clarkston, Washington, where she taught special education and later became director of the program.
She first visited Granite Falls a few weeks before she was hired as superintendent.
“I fell in love with it immediately,” she said. “I’m an outdoorsy-type person, and it’s close to hiking and ski hills.”
Her favorite hike is Mount Pilchuck in the summer, when it’s clear enough to see the surrounding mountains from the lookout.
About 2,000 students are in the district. She’s gotten to know many of them.
“I’ve been here long enough that we have some coming back and buying homes here and starting their families,” she said.
Hall’s favorite memories of Granite Falls come from times when people solved problems together.
One summer, the district didn’t receive federal funding to provide free lunches. Volunteers raised about $14,000 to keep the meal program going, she said.
“It’s constant here,” she said. “It’s just a very supportive place. Everybody takes care of everybody.”
There were nearly 200 more students in the district the year Hall started. The decline in enrollment has meant less money from the state, which has been a challenge, she said.
Hall’s husband, Leon Hall, is retiring in this spring as well. He’s the transportation supervisor for the school district in Lewiston, Idaho.
They plan to visit their three daughters and nine grandchildren more often. Hall also wants to spend time with her father. All of them live in Idaho.
“It’s time for me to focus back on my family,” she said.
Superintendent Hall announced her plans to retire on the Granite Falls School District Facebook page on Jan. 31.
Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @stephrdavey.
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