EVERETT — Carol Whitehead, the first member of her family to ever go to college, has come a long way from a wide-eyed first-grade teacher in rural Alabama to overseeing a $150 million operation as superintendent of the Everett School District.
She has seen a lot of change over those 35 years: special needs students allowed to attend their community schools, more racially integrated classrooms and increasing numbers of immigrant children learning English for the first time.
"I think I’m lucky to be a part of those changes," Whitehead said Friday, moments after being named the state’s superintendent of the year.
The Washington Association of School Administrators, a statewide professional association representing 1,100 members including superintendents, administrators and building principals, received nominations from communities across the state. Information about how many nominations were made was not available Friday.
Whitehead, who is not related to Marysville School District superintendent Linda Whitehead, is now in the running for national superintendent of the year, which will be announced in the spring.
"When I first heard, I was really surprised," said Whitehead, whose son flew from Connecticut to see his mother receive the award. "The next emotion I had was I was humbled. And then I felt honored. It took me a while to get from humbled to honored."
Being a superintendent carries many responsibilities, Whitehead said.
"I think it takes a real strong belief system that public education is important to the core of our country," she said. "I think you have to have that core belief. If you don’t, it’s really difficult to get through the day-to-day turmoil. The superintendent’s job takes getting through difficult situations. You have to be willing to make hard decisions that are not necessarily popular decisions."
"Carol is a wonderful representative of every desirable characteristic in an educational leader," said Jill Jacoby, executive director of the state school administrators association.
The entire Everett School Board took part in filling out the paperwork to nominate Whitehead.
"She is like a championship ice skater," said Karen Madsen, school board president. "She has both the style and grace and the absolute skills that make her effective."
Whitehead can make thoughtful and quick decisions in a warm and personal way, Madsen said.
Whitehead has been superintendent of Everett schools since July 2000. Before that, she was superintendent of the Bremerton School District. She has been a teacher; elementary school principal; assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and staff development; and assistant superintendent for secondary programs.
Between 1978 and 1988, she worked as a reading specialist in four Everett elementary schools, served as a principal of two others and later became director of curriculum and instruction.
Madsen, the school board president, joked that she and her colleagues had one reservation about nominating Whitehead.
"Our one concern was she would get a lot of other job offers after this," Madsen said.
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.
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