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Lower Kuskokwim School District Begins Search For New Superintendent

The Lower Kuskokwim School District was awarded a $34 million grant to build a new school building in Eek.
Courtesy of LKSD

The Lower Kuskokwim School District Board has begun its search for a new superintendent. At last week’s special board meeting, the board voted to contract the Association of Alaska School Boards to recruit candidates for the position.

LKSD Board President Clarence Daniel says that the board plans to interview candidates over the winter and hire someone by March. This will be Dan Walker’s last year as superintendent. He started his career at LKSD as a teacher in Quinhagak. 

“We have a long history of promoting teachers to principals. That’s what I did, and LKSD has a pretty strong history of promoting from within at the superintendent level,” Walker said.

Walker says that it’s essential for an LKSD Superintendent to understand that the Yup’ik language and culture is essential to learning in the classroom. He says that what has helped him most in his role is having relationships with community members.  

“So I’m able to pick up the phone, or they’re able to pick up the phone and visit with me about things that are happening in their communities that I may be able to help change,” Walker said.

Walker encourages the school board to choose a homegrown candidate if one applies. The school board plans to talk about what qualities they want their next superintendent to have at the board meeting on Nov. 21.

Greg Kim was a news reporter for KYUK from 2019-2022.