The district announced Saturday that its board members unanimously picked Parker over three other finalist candidates to lead Spokane's second largest school district.
Parker will replace Ben Small, who is retiring after 14 years as head of the Spokane area's second largest school district.
Prior to his current position in South America, Parker was the chief academic officer and area superintendent for Puyallup School District.
He was one of four candidates to visit the district this month for a round of meetings with board members, administrators, staff and parents.
"We have every confidence in John Parker and the strong asset he will be to our school system," said CV school board president Cindy McMullen in a statement released by the district. "His broad, diverse educational experience and innovation stood out in the interview process as well as his clear commitment to our students and community. We look forward to working with him – collaboratively with all our stakeholders – to continue building on the good work within the Central Valley community that we all proudly call home.”
“I am really excited to hit the ground running to serve kids in the best way possible. I look forward to partner with the Central Valley School Board and each of the students, staff, teachers, parents and community stakeholders—locking arms and moving forward collectively," Parker said in a statement released by the district.
The other three finalists were Tavis Peterson, the assistant superintendent of the Wapato School District; Troy Tornow, the assistant superintendent of Educational Service District 123 in the Tri-Cities; and Oscar Harris is the chief family and community engagement officer at Spokane Public Schools.
Parker is scheduled to begin at CV on July 1, though the district says he will likely meet with staff and board members before then.
Ben Small announced in January that he would leave CV and look for another opportunity outside of public education in the Spokane area.
