SOUTH WHIDBEY: Superintendent Search – Finalist Candidates – Community Forum on Wednesday, January 15th
The following letter from South Whidbey School District Superintendent Jo Moccia to parents was sent on Thu., Jan. 9, 2025.
Dear South Whidbey Schools’ Staff, Parents, Guardians, Students and Community,
Last night, after a full day of interviewing the six superintendent semi finalists, our School Board announced their top three finalists. Please see the press announcement and bios for the three finalists linked here.
Next week Wednesday, January 15th, the finalists will participate in a full day, series of interview activities with students, staff, the Board, and community members throughout the district campuses.
All of the school community is invited to meet the candidates in person or via Zoom at the Community Forum on Wednesday, January 15, from 6:00 to 8:25pm in the South Whidbey Elementary School Board Room, 5380 Maxwelton Road, Langley or via Zoom webinar. Passcode: 967859 Webinar ID: 868 1355 5580
FINALIST PROFILES
Dr. Becky Clifford
Becky Clifford is an accomplished educational leader with over two decades of experience spanning urban, rural, and island districts. She currently serves as Assistant Superintendent for the Anacortes School District, overseeing curriculum, instruction, student services, and community partnerships.
Known for her equity-focused and innovative leadership, Dr. Clifford successfully navigated fiscal constraints, contentious issues, and program transformation, while fostering academic, and social-emotional success for all students.
Dr. Clifford’s passion is to make a positive impact on every student’s life. She is committed to collaborating with students, staff, families, and community members to create an inclusive environment where students thrive both in and beyond school.
As a general and special educator at heart, she brings a systems approach to expanding opportunities such as rigorous course offerings, programming, and partnerships that ensure equitable access and outcomes.
She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Washington, a Master’s in Leadership in Inclusive Classrooms from Utica College, and a Bachelor’s in Exceptional and Elementary Education from SUNY Buffalo.
Dr. Clifford is excited to join South Whidbey’s close-knit community. Her transparency, fiscal stewardship, and forward-thinking leadership uniquely position her to lead the district into a sustainable and innovative future.
Dr. Kristine Michael
Dr. Kristine Treece Michael is a dynamic and accomplished educational leader with over 30 years of experience fostering innovative learning environments that spur students’ holistic development. She is currently the Superintendent of Northridge Local Schools in Johnstown, Ohio, a district spanning 135 square miles with 1,250 students. Under her leadership, the district has made significant advancements, achieving a 4.5-star state rating and a five-star graduation rate, while reducing chronic absenteeism and improving literacy scores.
Previously, Dr. Michael served as Assistant Superintendent in Northridge Local Schools and Buckeye Valley Local Schools, where she spearheaded curriculum innovations, managed COVID-19 responses, and facilitated multi-million-dollar construction projects. She also brings international expertise as a Curriculum Director at the International School of Dakar, Senegal. Dr. Michael holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Miami University.
She is passionate about strategic planning, community engagement, and equity in education. Leveraging her extensive experience spanning from international schools in Luxembourg and Senegal to public schools in Ohio, Dr. Michael builds collaborative, student-centered educational systems. She has a robust track record of fostering partnerships to achieve excellence.
Dr. Michael enjoys reading, traveling, and hiking with her family in her free time.
Liz Ritz
With over two decades of dedicated service to education, Liz Ritz is a respected and seasoned educational leader, currently serving as the Director of Teaching & Learning in Oak Harbor Public Schools. Liz brings a wealth of experience from her extensive tenure in the Bellevue School District, where she held various positions including teacher, instructional coach, principal, and director. Liz earned her Superintendent credential at Washington State University and will defend her doctoral dissertation this spring.
Known for her authentic and accessible leadership style, Liz prioritizes fostering safe, inclusive learning environments where every student feels a sense of belonging and unwavering support to pursue academic and extracurricular goals. Liz believes in early literacy development, social emotional learning, amplifying student voice, and developing executive functioning skills as a means to support equity in academic achievement and prepare each and every learner to thrive as thoughtful innovators, both inside and outside of the classroom.
A proud resident of Whidbey Island, Liz values strong community connections and is an active volunteer. She and her husband, Gareth, a Marine Corps veteran, enjoy supporting their daughters, Cady (18) and Millie (13), in their athletic pursuits on the rugby pitch and wrestling mat.
