The Vashon community is invited to an open forum Monday night to meet the two finalists being considered for the position of Chautauqua Elementary School principal.

Vashon Island School District Superintendent Michael Soltman said Thursday that after months of searching by a committee comprised of parents, staff and administrators, the field has been narrowed to two experienced women. The public will be able to meet and ask questions of Heather Moro and Rebecca Goertzel at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Chautauqua multipurpose room.

Moro has a 17-year career in education that has included experience as a language arts and social studies teacher, special education teacher and elementary principal. She is currently principal of Slade Elementary School in Laramie, Wyoming, but has an island connection as she lived on the island for four years as a commuter to her first teaching assignment in the Highline School District.

Soltman said in his Thursday statement that she “is highly regarded as an instructional leader … through quality instruction, relationship building and building collaborative learning teams with teachers.”

Moro also served as principal at the K-12 Rock River School in Wyoming from 2005 to 2008.

Goertzel’s nearly 20-year career in education has included experience as a classroom teacher, head of an independent school, principal of an elementary school, university faculty member, research associate and an educational consultant. For the past two years, she has served as an educational consultant for the Monteverde Friends School and the Cloud Forest School in Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Soltman said Goertzel is known for her ability to “promote instructional change while fostering a positive school climate and improved student achievement.” She is bilingual (Spanish), with depth of experience in English language learner (ELL) programs and support for multi-cultural education. She held a faculty position with Seattle Pacific University teaching ELL and bilingual education courses.

Moro’s resume can be accessed here.

Goertzel’s can be accessed here.