Newest Prexie: Washington School District hires new superintendent
The Washington School District has a new superintendent.
Alisa King was hired at a special school board meeting Sept. 3 to serve in the district’s top spot.
King, who has years of education experience in area school districts, was most recently the assistant superintendent at Belle Vernon Area School District.
She is no stranger to the Washington School District and the Prexie family. King’s oldest stepdaughter, Monica King Poland, was the valedictorian of the Washington High School Class of 2010, and a son, Jordan King, graduated in 2015.
“I could not be happier to be with the Washington School District. I’m extremely proud to be back in a school district I’m familiar with,” said King.
King was awarded a three-year contract and an annual salary of $145,000. She began her duties on Sept. 4.
Prior to her four-year position at Belle Vernon, King had worked at South Allegheny School District as director of elementary education since 2001. She began her teaching career in the Uniontown Area School District, where she taught elementary education for 13 years, and also served as an administrator at West Greene School District.
The longtime educator and administrator – she is in her 33rd year in education – said she is looking forward to working with the students, staff, administration, teachers, parents and the community.
She aims to build relationships and to cultivate a positive learning environment.
“Building relationships for me is huge. Of the many things I want kids to take away from their education, I hope one of them is strong relationships with adults and peers,” said King. “The Prexie family is dedicated to its students. It’s evident to me that the staff is dedicated and committed to the students in their charge.”
King’s hiring comes after former superintendent George Lammay retired in August.
King stood out during the interview process, and school board President Tara Sparks-Gatling said King already has relationships and contacts with some of the organizations and agencies the school district partners with, “which should make a smooth transition.”
“Her knowledge and understanding of the operations of a district, school budgeting, federal and state guidelines and requirements, and policy compliance made her a good candidate for the Washington School District,” said Sparks-Gatling.
King plans to build on the academic and extracurricular programs that are the core of Prexie Pride.
“I’m pleased with the situation I’m walking into. I’m very excited to be a part of this staff,” said King, who has made it a priority to visit all of the district’s schools to get to know the staff and students. “I can see it, from the way their classrooms are set up and the way they talk and interact with the students, that they are set up for the kids to be successful. The staff and teachers give a lot of time and effort and truly want the kids to succeed. This is the business we are in. We will make decisions that we know, in the end, are best for the kids in Washington.”
King also acknowledges the important role families play in students’ academic achievement, and has been making an effort to get to know parents.
She brings a wealth of situational experience, along with “an element of understanding and compassion” to the position, which she believes are important to meeting the needs of children in today’s educational setting.
“I’m realistic. I know we’re going to have great days, we’re going to have good days, and we’re going to have days that don’t go as well as we want them to, and we’re going to evaluate and grow from it. That’s all you can ask of everybody,” said King.
King and her husband, Ryan, live in Jefferson Hills, and have four children, including 11-year-old and 13-year-old boys who are in middle school in the West Jefferson Hills School District.