LYNNWOOD —Two of the three finalists hoping to become the next Edmonds School District superintendent don’t need a map to find their way around the sprawling, 21,000-student district.

On Friday, the Edmond School Board named the three top candidates. They are Nick Brossoit, superintendent of the Tumwater School District; Ellen Kahan, an assistant superintendent in the Edmonds School District; and Ken Limon, another assistant superintendent in the Edmonds district.

The superintendent search generated applications from nine states, including Washington. The number of candidates who applied was not released Friday.

"We feel very good about the applicant pool we were able to look through," said Bruce Williams, school board president. "The challenge we face is the difficulty of choosing between good people."

A community forum is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at which residents, students and staff can ask questions of the candidates and complete a form on their impressions of each one. The forum will be at Edmonds-Woodway High School, 7600 212th St. SW.

Brossoit, 45, was an assistant superintendent in the Burlington-Edison School District before taking over as Tumwater’s superintendent 10 years ago.

"I am really happy where I am," Brossoit said. "There are some personal and professional opportunities in the Edmonds School District that are attractive to me."

Brossoit said the Edmonds district has a good reputation, which appealed to him.

On the personal level, Brossoit’s 13-year-old son is the only hearing-impaired student at his school. At Edmonds-Woodway High School, 35 students are deaf or hearing impaired, and more than 100 students know American Sign Language.

"He could have a peer group," Brossoit said.

Kahan, 55, was principal at Edmonds Elementary School before becoming an assistant superintendent.

Kahan began her career as a special education teacher after she started working with disabled children at camps when she was 14. She said she has moved from schools to district offices and back to the schools three times during her career.

"It has helped me stay fresh, to keep that passion for students," she said.

Limon, 57, began his career as a third-grade teacher 33 years ago. He has taught elementary through high school classes along the way.

Before coming to Edmonds, he was director of instruction and elementary operations in the Lake Stevens School District from 1991 through 1999.

"I think my knowledge and the personal relationships I have developed here will help us move forward as a district," Limon said.

The school board hopes to name a new superintendent by April 9. The current superintendent, Wayne Robertson, will retire at the end of the school year after five years leading the district.

Anyone who cannot attend the forum but would like to provide information to the school board may leave voice-mail comments at 425-670-7047 or send an e-mail message to sylvia@ksaplus.com.

Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.