Dr. Michelle Reid, South Kitsap School District superintendent since 2013, is leaving to assume the same role at Northshore School District in Bothell.

The Northshore district board of directors announced June 16 that it had unanimously selected Reid as its new school superintendent from among a national pool of 74 candidates from 48 states, according to Ken Smith, a school board director.

Rein was chosen over two other finalists: Ferndale Superintendent Linda Quinn and Adrian Talley, executive director of Student Services for Prince George’s County Public Schools in Upper Marlboro, Md.

Reid joined the two other finalists at a public forum at Northshore district headquarters June 15 in Bothell.

Reid’s departure comes shortly after South Kitsap district voters failed to pass a bond measure to build a second high school for the second time in April.

“While I am looking forward to assuming the superintendent of Northshore Schools position, this is difficult, as I have considered myself so blessed to have had the opportunity to serve such an amazing community and school district,” Reid said in a written statement.

“The dedicated and hardworking school district staff and strong family and community support, set South Kitsap apart.

“I want to thank the board of directors for their resolute support and inspiring leadership throughout my tenure here in the district and wish the students, staff, families and the community all the best in the coming years.”

Reid was named South Kitsap superintendent in February 2013 of the nearly 10,000-student school system. Prior to joining South Kitsap, Reid was assistant superintendent for the Port Angeles School District and earlier was an administrator in various roles. She served in the assistant superintendent role since 2004.

Reid will succeed Larry Francois at Northshore, who is leaving the district after eight years as superintendent of Educational Service District 189.

“After interviewing the exceptional candidates and sifting through all the feedback from staff and community stakeholders, the board is confident that Dr. Reid’s experience and vision will continue the traditional of excellence in Northshore,” said Board President Amy Cast in a district statement on Thursday.

“I am so excited to cast my vote today for our next superintendent, who not just meets the criteria, she has exceeded the expectations I had when this process began,” said district director David Cogan.

Reid received her doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Washington, master’s degree in educational administration from the UW, and her bachelor’s degree in natural science and chemistry from the University of Puget Sound.

Greg Wall, president of the South Kitsap district’s board of directors, said Reid had informed board members earlier when she became a finalist for the Northshore leadership post.

When asked if he believed Reid’s departure was triggered by the recent South Kitsap construction bond-issue losses, Wall said it likely was Northshore’s status as a larger school district and its more lucrative financial package that prompted her decision to leave.

As a state employee, Wall said Reid would benefit by the salary increase. “State employees’ pensions are based on the final three years of employment,” he said, “and I’m sure Michelle is positioning herself for retirement” in the next several years.

“I’m sure (Reid) really likes our district, but we can’t really match what is being offered over there,” Wall said of Northshore, as well as other, larger districts in King County.

Wall said the board of directors is sad to see Reid leave. “We owe her a debt of gratitude for how much she’s done for our district,” he said.

“We had some pretty bad problems financially here in the district (when she arrived), which she’s turned around completely. A lot of the innovation in our district is because of ideas she had, especially our international baccalaureate program and the Spanish immersion program.”

South Kitsap School District is in good position at the leadership level, Wall said, due to Reid’s inspiration and executive management skills.

Wall said the board is evaluating plans for hiring Reid’s replacement, but the board president said he expects an interim superintendent will be put in place while an outside search firm evaluates candidates to permanently fill the position.