After a full day of interviewing six semi-finalist candidates for our superintendent position, we are pleased to announce that the school board has selected the following three candidates to move forward to the finalist round of interviews: Greg Schwab, Yvonne (Voni) Walker, and Shawn Woodward. 

Final interviews with these candidates will be held all day on Thursday, January 26th. All community members are invited to observe the finalists' interviews with a community panel at 6:00 p.m. that evening. Observers may attend in-person at the Monroe School District Administration Office or via Zoom. All observers will be invited to provide input on the candidates via an online form for the school board to review as part of their decision making process. Please visit our superintendent search webpage for more information.

The bios below have been prepared by each of the finalist candidates.

Greg Schwab

Greg Schwab currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education and Facilities and Operations for the Edmonds School District. In addition, he oversees the district's Technology, Career and Technical Education, and Athletic Departments.

He firmly believes the role of educators is to ensure all students receive a high-quality education that prepares them for the opportunity to pursue their dreams and passions after high school.

Schwab has held positions at several levels, which include: high school language arts teacher, coach, district athletic director, high school assistant principal and high school principal. His experience and skills have led him to his current role as Assistant Superintendent.

Schwab holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Oregon, a master of arts degree in teaching from Lewis and Clark College, and he is currently a doctoral candidate at Washington State University, expecting to earn a doctorate in educational leadership later in 2023. His research focuses on understanding students’ perceptions of safety in their high school and using their voices to guide initiatives to create safer learning environments.

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Yvonne (Voni) Walker

Yvonne Walker is superintendent of the Manson School District where she has served for the past three years. Prior to that time, she served 17 years in the Arlington School District as a building administrator and eight years in Monroe School District as a classroom teacher.

Walker holds a master's degree in Educational Leadership from Seattle Pacific University, a Superintendent Certification from Washington State University and is a member of the School Superintendents Association (AASA).

She is passionate about providing equitable educational opportunities for all students in the district. Through her leadership, she has been able to reduce disparities in academic achievement, increase access to educational resources, and create a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Walker has a deep commitment to fostering meaningful relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members. She frequently visits schools to talk to students and teachers. She also meets regularly with parents and community members to ensure their voices are heard.

As leader of the district, Walker works tirelessly to ensure that all students are provided a high-quality educational experience. She is dedicated to creating an atmosphere of trust and respect and is always looking for ways to improve the educational experience for all students.

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Shawn Woodward

Shawn Woodward began his career in the South Kitsap School District, where he taught for seven years at the elementary and junior high levels. In 1999, he became a principal in the Burlington-Edison School District, serving at two K-8 schools over a nine-year period. In 2008, Mr. Woodward began working as an assistant superintendent in the North Kitsap School District. He oversaw the Learning and Teaching Department for four years and was responsible for overseeing efforts to improve student learning and to close opportunity gaps.

Woodward is currently the superintendent of the Mead School District, serving students and families in Spokane, Mead, and Colbert, WA. Prior to that he served as superintendent of the Lake Pend Oreille School District in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Woodward has been committed to ensuring high levels of learning for ALL students for over 30 years. He has a wealth of experience working with teams to build more equitable systems for students in order to achieve better outcomes for all.

Woodward and his wife, Michelle, have three grown children - two daughters and a son. In their spare time, the Woodward family loves to be outdoors, enjoying skiing, hiking, and running throughout the Pacific Northwest.

 

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We look forward to our staff, students, and community engaging with and observing these finalist candidates next Thursday and our final interview with them so that we can ultimately determine who is the best fit to lead our district.