Sequim school leaders have their choice for the district new superintendent.

After a series of interviews — including those by a group of school staff and community representatives — Sequim School District’s board directors on March 13 unanimously agreed to hire an individual only identified at “Candidate W” to be the district’s lead administrator.

“We are still at a level where we protect the confidentiality of the applicants,” board president Erik Pickens said Sunday, just before the 5-0 vote.

The superintendent’s identity will be released following contract negotiations later this month, district officials said.

“There were some tough … hard decisions,” board director Jim Stoffer said. “I’m confident that we have a very positive selection that will resonate with our community, staff and students.”

School board directors narrowed their search from five candidates to three finalists and an alternate on Feb. 25 following an all-day executive session meeting and interviewing the candidates via Zoom. Directors then held interviews all day — both in-person and in executive session — on March 12, before a two-hour executive session a day later.

The five semi-finalists were narrowed from a field of 21 applicants on Feb. 15.

Board director Larry Jeffryes said he was impressed with the overall superintendent applicant pool.

“I think that says a lot for the community,” he said Sunday.

Picken said the criteria for Sequim’s next superintendent included a “pretty extensive list of qualifications.”

Said Pickens, “We had multiple candidates that met that criteria. “(It) makes this decision difficult, but we identified a candidate that will bring this district to the next level.”

The superintendent position became vacant late last year after Jane Pryne resigned after 13 months as interim superintendent. Pryne replaced superintendent Robert Clark, who resigned after a complaint in October 2020 put him on administrative leave.

Joan Zook, a retired superintendent and Sequim resident, accepted the interim position after Pryne for the remainder of the school year. She is the fourth Sequim schools superintendent since 2019.