Dayton Selects Shaber as Principal

DAYTON – The Dayton School Board last week approved the hiring of Paul Shaber as middle school/high school principal beginning in the 2015-2016 school year. The vote was unanimous, with board member Joe Heuther not in attendance.

The vote was taken during the board's regular meeting, last Wednesday evening, after an executive session lasting approximately 90 minutes.

Shaber, an Idaho math and science teacher, was one of four finalists for the position, all of whom met with the community, teachers, staff and students in a series of public interviews earlier this month. The finalists also included Kate Wenzl, who currently serves as interim middle school/high school principal.

After the board meeting, Dayton School Superintendent Doug Johnson issued a press release in which he described the qualities that led him to recommend Shaber for the position:

"Shaber has been teaching and leading in the Fruitland, Idaho, School District since the fall of 2003, completing his administrative internship in June of 2014. Shaber held building and district leadership positions in the areas of technology and math curriculum and is currently a member of a district-wide leadership team which meets to discuss and propose solutions to problems faced by the district.

"Although Mr. Shaber is currently in Idaho, he is familiar with the instructional framework used by Dayton and which is part of Washington's evaluation system for teachers and principals. Shaber is eager to learn more about how he can support and encourage teachers through the implementation of the evaluation system."

Johnson also said that he "visited the current districts of candidates outside of Dayton for opportunity to meet candidate's supervisors, colleagues, and students."

The Dayton Middle School and High School have operated with an interim principal since last July, when Andy Maheras resigned to take a position in Sunnydale. Wenzl is under contract to remain with the district until the end of the school year, on June 30, according to Johnson.