Aberdeen Schools

Lisa Templeton, 3rd Grade teacher at McDermoth Elementary School, is our 2022 Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Templeton has been an elementary teacher in the Aberdeen School District for 30 years – since September 1992. She’s taught grades 3 through 6 and in the highly capable program.

Her husband, Ian, is a paraprofessional at the high school and their three children – Skylar and twins Zoë and Sierra -- attended Aberdeen schools from preschool through Grade 12.

McDermoth Principal Bryan McKinney describes Mrs. Templeton as an outstanding educator whose students all learn "at very high rates across a spectrum of needs as vast as the ocean."

“Mrs. Templeton is one of the most positive individuals that I have ever met,” he said in his nominating letter. “Her positivity is contagious and steers our school towards a better day, each and every school day. She is a source of inspiration not only for me, but for all who are lucky enough to know her.”

Janis Steele, Health Specialist and Nurse for the District, is our 2022 Classified Employee of the Year.

Mrs. Steele has worked for the district since the start of the 2017 school year. In 2020, she stepped up to the new role of District Health Specialist and was instrumental in developing and managing the health and safety protocols during the pandemic.

Before coming to the District, she worked in Primary Care / Women’s Health at Harbor Regional Health, as well as HarborCrest and Summit Pacific Internal Medicine Clinic for a short time before taking the nursing position for the school district. She and her husband, Josh, have two boys – Merritt, 11, and Alex, 6.

Her supervisor, Dr. Rick Bates, describes her as the “epitome of an essential health worker.”

“Janis has gone above and beyond to support administration, county health department staff, coaches, staff members, students, parents and community by testing, communicating, educating, documenting and reporting,” he said. “She is confidential, detailed, collaborative, flexible, professional, prepared, organized, empathetic, dependable and dedicated.”

Jamie Stotler, principal at Stevens Elementary School, is our 2022 Administrator of the Year.

Mrs. Stotler has been an educator for 23 years. She came to Aberdeen five years ago to be assistant principal at Stevens. Shewas promptly promoted to serve as Robert Gray principal the next year, and she was there for two years before returning to Stevens as the principal two years ago.

Mrs. Stotler came to Aberdeen from Hoquiam where she had worked as a teacher for 15 years and dean of students for three.

Her family includes husband Damon and children Walker, ReyLynn and Noah.

"Jamie provides excellent leadership at Stevens School and in our district," Superintendent Alicia Henderson said. "Her staff, her students and her parents appreciate her dedication and her competence as principal.

Dr. Henderson noted that Mrs. Stotler also directs the English Learner program for the entire district. "She is a highly valued member of our Leadership Team, as she consistently contributes ideas and service in the spirit of continuous improvement. I am pleased to recognize Jamie as the inaugural Administrator of the Year for ASD5."

Nikki L. Grubbs of Olympia is currently superintendent of the Hood Canal School District and will be in the District on Tuesday, March 8.

Mrs. Grubbs has been superintendent at Hood Canal for the past three years. Prior positions have included executive director of Teaching and Learning at ESD 105 in Yakima and principal at Harbour Pointe Middle School in Mukilteo. She also has experience in secondary schools as both an assistant principal and as a science teacher. She and her husband, Gerry, raised four children.

Mrs. Grubbs earned her bachelor of science degree in biology from Boise State University and holds master’s degrees in biology and educational administration from Washington State University.

The community will have the opportunity to meet with her at 6 p.m. in the Auditorium at Aberdeen High School.

Jeffrey D. Thake, Ed.D, of Amboy, Illinois, is the former superintendent of the Williston Public School District in North Dakota, where the Williston #1 and Williston #7 school districts recently combined into one school district. He will be in the District on Thursday, March 10.

Dr. Thake's other positions include superintendent of the Amboy School District in Illinois, high school principal in Amboy and high school associate principal for Sterling Public Schools, also in Illinois.

Dr. Thake earned his bachelor of music degree in music education from Southern Illinois University, and his master of arts degree and doctorate in education from Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois.

The community will have the opportunity to meet wiht him at 6 p.m. in the Auditorium at Aberdeen High School.

Each of the finalists for superintendent will have a very busy, 12-hour day when they are here. In the morning, they will:

• Tour the district,
• Meet with principals and other instructional leaders;
• Have lunch with AHS students (prepared by the culinary art students) and
• Take part in a student-led tour of Aberdeen High School.

In the afternoon, they will

• Meet with the superintendent's Cabinet,
• Meet with District Office and Stewart Building classified staff,
• Meet with union leadership;
• Meet with all staff who have been invited to the Auditorium to meet the candidates at 4 p.m.
• Eat dinner with the School Board, and
• Meet with the Community at 6 p.m. in the Auditorium.

At each point along the way, participants in the meetings will be invited to share their thoughts and feedback with the School Board.

Their official interview with the Board will begin at 7 p.m. in the Board Room at the Administration Building.

Superintendent Interviews

Agenda for March 8 and March 10 Executive Session (pdf)

Regular Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Board of Directors is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, at Miller Junior High School and via webinar. It is hoped that the Board will take action on a contract for the next superintendent.

Parents and guardians are invited to review the Sexual Health curriculum being implemented in our District under a new state law. The meeting will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9, at the Stewart Building, 900 Cleveland St.

Here is a link to more information and the Parent Letter in English and Spanish.

Governor Jay Inslee announced this week that the mandatory mask requirement for schools and most of the state will end on March 11. Masks will become optional indoors for students and staff.

Additional health guidance is expected next week.

• Superintendent Alicia Henderson, ahenderson@asd5.org

• Business Office, Elyssa Louderback, elouderback@asd5.org
• Human Resources, Christi Sayres, csayres@asd5.org
• Special Education, Rick Bates, rbates@asd5.org
• Career & Technical Education, Lynn Green, lgreen@asd5.org
• Teaching, Learning & Technology, Traci Sandstrom, tsandstrom@asd5.org
• Food Services, Jaime Matisons, jmatisons@asd5.org

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The Aberdeen School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Christi Sayres, Title IX Coordinator and Civil rights Compliance Coordinator, 216 North G St., Aberdeen, WA 98520; (360) 538-2222; csayres@asd5.org; Dr. Richard Bates, Section 504/ADA Coordinator, 216 North G St., Aberdeen, WA 98520; (360) 538-2017; rbates@asd5.org.