GRANITE FALLS — Josh Middleton is new to the town that serves as a gateway to the mountains, but he’s worked in school districts of similar size during his 33-year career in education.
About 2,000 students are enrolled in the Granite Falls School District.
“That’s the sweet spot,” Middleton said. “As superintendent, I’ll know every staff member, I’ll know a lot of the kids and parents, but most importantly there are not too many layers between my office and the classroom.”
Middleton plans to focus on curricula, creating strong relationships and building the district’s savings accounts.
He started work about a month ago, taking over for former Superintendent Linda Hall, who retired in June after eight years.
As a child, Middleton’s father served in the military, which meant they moved often. They settled in Montana where Middleton attended high school.
He was an Eagle Scout. As a teenager he worked at Boy Scout camps. That’s one reason he decided to become a teacher.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah, and started as a high school social studies teacher in Melbourne, Florida.
“When you’re 22 and out of college you think: ‘Let’s go to Florida,’” he said.
He spent almost a decade teaching, and then moved into administration.
Middleton started a family in Florida, and after some time decided to move back to Montana. He worked as an elementary school principal and later as a superintendent in a few districts.
One of his favorite memories was at Laurel Public Schools.
The district had proposed a bond to pay for a new football stadium.
“The football field was basically a swamp,” Middleton said.
It didn’t pass at first. They tried again, and voters said “yes.” About 50 people celebrated on the field when the stadium opened, including parents, coaches and construction workers who were involved with the project.
Middleton and his family eventually left Montana to move south. A couple of years later, they decided to come back to the Northwest.
He became superintendent of the Middleton School District in Idaho. It was coincidence that he shared a name with the district.
Almost three years into the job, a controversy in the district made national news.
During Halloween last year, a group of teachers in one of the elementary schools dressed up in sombreros, ponchos and fake mustaches. Another group held a fake brick wall printed with the words “Make America Great Again.” Photos were posted to the district’s Facebook page.
Middleton posted an apology video to the same webpage.
“We had to own (up to) it,” he said in an interview last week.
The teachers were placed on paid leave and ultimately returned to the classroom.
The Granite Falls School Board began to search for a new superintendent in February. Middleton was chosen from a pool of 35 applicants. He accepted the job at the end of May.
He expects the district to grow in the coming years.
When Middleton was a teacher, he would read to his students, even those in high school.
He looks forward to asking students and teachers alike: “What book are you reading?”
“When kids pick up a book, it just triggers their imagination,” he said. “It takes them places.”
Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @stephrdavey.
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