Tacoma, WASHINGTON (28 August 2017) With the announcement that Dr. Frank Hewins, Superintendent of Franklin Pierce Schools since 2007, will retire at the conclusion of the 2017-2018 school year, the Franklin Pierce School Board of Directors has unanimously chosen Mr. Lance Goodpaster, current Assistant Superintendent of PK-12, as the next Superintendent of Franklin Pierce Schools. Mr. Goodpaster will become Superintendent on July 1, 2018.

Mr. Goodpaster will bring to his new role a 24-year career in public education. His first teaching position was at Christensen Elementary in Franklin Pierce Schools, ten years before he became Principal of Evergreen Primary School in the University Place School District in 2002.  While in University Place School District, he was heavily involved in district-level leadership activities that ranged from leading a principals’ cohort, co-leading curriculum adoptions, district policy/procedure revisions, implementing new teacher and staff evaluation processes, collective bargaining, and school facilities planning. Mr. Goodpaster re-joined the Franklin Pierce Schools’ team in 2013 when he was selected to be Assistant Superintendent of PK-12, a role he has held since. Additionally, Mr. Goodpaster is a member of the Parkland-Spanaway Rotary, has participated in and received awards from PTA groups over the course of his career, and has been involved in several other community service activities.

“The Board of Directors has been pleased with the District’s steady improvement of student academic success, including on-time and extended graduation rates, which have consistently exceeded state and national averages for the past several years,” said Mr. Cole Roberts, President of the Franklin Pierce School Board of Directors. “The Board wanted to select a new Superintendent who will continue the District’s strong momentum of increasing student academic achievement and closing achievement gaps for all students, and we believe that Mr. Goodpaster’s leadership and extensive list of qualifications makes him the best person to become the District’s next Superintendent.”

Mr. Goodpaster’s position title of Assistant Superintendent of PK-12 has been renamed to Deputy Superintendent for the 2017-2018 school year, during which time he will continue his current duties.