Springfield School District chooses finalists for interim superintendent

The Springfield School Board has announced three finalists for the interim superintendent role, tasked with leading the district through the next school year. The position replaces Todd Hamilton, who resigned earlier this year, and Jodi O’Mara, who served as acting superintendent after returning from retirement. The three candidates are Michael Carter, currently superintendent of Lake County School District 7 in Oregon, with over 40 years of education experience, including 24 years as a superintendent. Carter holds degrees from Lewis & Clark College and UCLA and has served as a principal, professor, and mentor. He also leads the Oregon Small Schools Association. Dr. Kimberlee Pelster, principal of Thurston High School, has improved graduation rates to 90% and boosted support for underserved students since 2022. She previously worked with Teach For America in Chicago and the Eugene School District, earning a doctorate in educational leadership this spring. John Stover, Ed.D., superintendent of Rockingham County Schools in North Carolina, brings over 30 years of experience, including roles in D.C. Public Schools and Uplift Education Charter Schools in Texas. He holds a doctorate from Marymount University and has secured grants for facility improvements and expanded college pathways. The finalists will participate in interviews next week to determine who will lead Springfield Public Schools through the interim period while the board searches for a long-term superintendent.