The Yakima School District will soon have a new leader. The Yakima School District Board of Directors has selected candidates to be interviewed to fill the upcoming vacancy for superintendent after Elaine Beraza  announced her retirement at the conclusion of the 2014-15 school year.

The next superintendent will begin July 1, 2015.
Fourteen people submitted applications. Candidates selected for preliminary interviews include:

Mark Davalos,. superintendent of St. Helens School District in St. Helens, Ore.
·    Danna Diaz, assistant superintendent of the El Paso Independent School District in El Paso, Texas.
·    Jack Irion, deputy superintendent of the Yakima School District.
·    George Juarez, superintendent of the Othello School District.
·    Cece Mahre, associate superintendent of the Yakima School District
·    Kevin McKay, superintendent of Zillah School District. Zillah.
·    Vickie Ybarra, a self-employed consultant now living in Albuquerque, N.M.

Preliminary interviews will be conducted Feb. 5 and 6 at the Yakima School District Central Services building, 104 N. Fourth Ave. Interviews will begin at 4 p.m. and last for approximately one hour for each candidate. Interviews are open to the public.

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