The board of Vashon Island School District has chosen a firm to assist in its search for a new superintendent, following the resignation of current superintendent Slade McSheehy.
On May 1, the board listened to proposals from representatives of three firms considered for the consultancy, and then convened into executive session to select Hazard Young Attea & Associates (HYA), a national executive search and recruitment firm known for its work in serving educational institutions.
Other firms considered were Human Capital Enterprises and Tradition Search Partners, both of which also made proposals to assist in separate searches for an interim superintendent.
In an interview, Juniper Rogneby, board chair, said that the board’s decision-making process was thoughtful, and that all the board members “feel really good about” about the decision to hire HYA to lead the search.
The firm came with “fantastic” references, Rogneby said, from Washington State school districts that have used their services — including South Whidbey School District, which recently engaged the firm in its hire of a new superintendent. That district has many similarities to Vashon’s school district, Rogneby added.
HYA is also now working with Seattle Public Schools in its search for a new superintendent — a process that could have residual benefits for Vashon as it will cast a wide net in terms of applicants, some of whom might be highly qualified but better suited to work in a nearby smaller district such as Vashon, according to Rogneby.
Rogneby said that she and other board members had also especially impressed with HYA’s plans to engage the Vashon community and solicit information from many stakeholders during the hiring process.
HYA will charge a flat fee of $15,500 for its work for the district, with options for additional add-on services that could increase the cost of its work to somewhere between $15,500 and $25,000 — a good value in comparison to the costs of the other firms considered, Rogneby said.
In terms of the board’s search for an interim superintendent, Rogneby said, she and other board members are hopeful they can complete that search on their own, though HYA has now offered to consult in that process.
McSheehy’s resignation is effective at the end of June, after which time he will begin his new job as the superintendent of the Bremerton School District.
The timeline of HYA’s search on Vashon, Rogneby said, will include meeting with constituent groups on Vashon in the fall. The hire of the new superintendent is now expected to take place in the spring of 2026, she said.
McSheehy was hired as Vashon’s superintendent in 2018.
In an emailed message to the Vashon community after his hire in Bremerton, McSheehy said that after serving seven years as Vashon’s superintendent, and with his youngest son set to graduate high school this year, he looked forward to the challenges and rewards of working in a larger district.
But the decision to depart Vashon was not easy, he said.
“One of the greatest privileges of my 30-year career has been working alongside the incredibly talented and committed team of educators, staff, and administrators across the district,” he said. “… I am grateful to have been a part of this all-star team of educators.”
He said he was particularly proud of the district’s work on “the Vashon Promise, which includes broadening supports for our multilingual learners and their families, fostering deeper connections with the Puyallup Tribe, and making progress to ensure that all students — regardless of background — feel a sense of belonging and opportunity in our schools.”
