The Bremerton school board announced April 1 that Slade McSheehy will be the district’s next superintendent, effective July 1.

McSheehy, superintendent of the Vashon Island School District, was selected from a pool of three finalists after a community forum. The other two candidates were Enumclaw School District superintendent Shaun Carey and Oakville School District superintendent Rich Staley.

“The board was impressed with all three of the highly qualified finalists, making this a very difficult decision,” said John Hurley, board president. “Dr. McSheehy’s proven budget and strategic plan implementation experience positioned him as the most prepared to take our district to the next level.”

The superintendent vacancy was created when the board fired previous superintendent James Crawford days before the start of the 2024-25 school year. The district said in a brief statement at the time that the decision followed a third-party investigation into Crawford’s network usage that found he had allegedly accessed board members’ emails without their consent and the completion of a workplace environment report that “indicated a reported pattern of verbal intimidation, fear, hostility, extreme stress and health impacts under Dr. Crawford’s leadership.”

Donna Colosky was appointed interim superintendent following Crawford’s termination and is serving through the remainder of the school year.

During the forum, McSheehy described himself as a “lifetime student” and expressed enthusiasm about applying his passion for equity and student success in a larger district setting. “I think it’s through the unknown and the uncomfortable that we grow,” he said.

McSheehy emphasized the importance of understanding the district’s systems at all levels. “The superintendent is going to have to have a deep understanding of what the capacity is and the efforts are towards increasing student achievement,” he said.

He highlighted the importance of spending time where it matters. “I call it showing up,” he said. “Time seems to be our most precious asset. We tend not to have enough of it to do everything that we need to do, so when I spend time, that means that’s where I’m investing.”

The newly appointed superintendent also spoke about his leadership in improving student academic achievement, sharing his belief that progress comes through small, consistent improvements. “If we get a little bit every day, it’ll show up,” he said. “It doesn’t happen overnight.”

He explained that through the strategic plan in Vashon, staff, leadership and resources were aligned to support student growth. “We’re getting better at removing the barriers,” he said.

A particularly memorable moment in McSheehy’s career came when he worked with the Puyallup Tribe. “We wanted to honor that history on the island and lift it up, raise it up, raise up the Native American culture,” McSheehy said, reflecting on the curriculum that involved creating a mural dedicated to a tribal elder and signing a memorandum with other districts to expand indigenous language offerings.

McSheehy also spoke about his personal journey. “I grew up in a house with a single mom, trying to support two kids and understanding what it takes to do that,” he said. “That’s why I’m really about making a difference.”

He explained that his own educational struggles—such as flunking out of Auburn University—shaped his dedication to helping students find success, no matter their path. “I’m a big advocate of lifting people up instead of putting people down,” he said. “I think that happens maybe way too much in a way that’s not healthy for us.”

Finally, McSheehy, who earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Washington State University, shared his commitment in leadership. “Begin and end the day with gratitude,” he said, explaining that he has a laminated card with the message, “I’m honestly just thankful that I get to do the job that I get to do.”