UPDATE: Watch the forum LIVE

Thanks to our broadcast partners at Hawk TV/HBN, you can watch the superintendent forum right here, LIVE, starting at 6:30 p.m.

The superintendent search continues as the two finalist candidates are set to attend a Community Public Forum on Thursday, Mar. 31 in the MTHS theater beginning at 6:30 p.m.

At the forum, the candidates will present, after which the public will be able to ask questions and fill out feedback forms, according to the ESD.

If you are unable to attend the event, HBN will be livestreaming it on video. The link will be available here.

Some background behind the two finalists:

Dr. Kris McDuffy, Superintendent, Arlington, WA

Current Superintendent of Arlington Public Schools, McDuffy has worked in public education for 33 years, according to the Arlington Public Schools website.

She began as a business teacher in Shoreline and, upon moving to the Lakewood School District, gradually moved her way up to assistant principal, principal, and finally superintendent, according to McDuffy. From there, she went into administration and eventually became the superintendent of the Lakewood School District and, later, Arlington Public Schools.

“I had a passion for helping with school improvement efforts, so that was an opportunity for me to be able to influence schools and school systems to a greater degree,” McDuffy said.

McDuffy also worked as the director of educational administration programs at Western Washington University, where she previously earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees.

McDuffy said that, in her tenure as a superintendent, she is most proud of her work expanding opportunities for students to find their passions. Under her leadership, Arlington Public Schools developed programs and expanded course offerings, especially in CTE, McDuffy said.

Her goal remains to “expand hands-on, real-world, relevant curriculum.”

McDuffy said she doesn’t have a set agenda for the district if she is hired, rather she would listen and learn from constituent groups (students, teachers, parents, etc.) to learn what they are proud of, where they want to improve and how she can support that.

“I have a passion and a drive to make sure that we are meeting every student’s needs every hour of every day,” McDuffy said.

Dr. Chrys Sweeting, Assistant Superintendent, Puyallup, WA

In addition to being Assistant Superintendent, Sweeting has worked in the Puyallup School District as the executive director of special services, Title I/LAP, ELL, and health services as well as an elementary school principal, according to a Renton School District news release.
Before beginning in the Puyallup School District, Sweeting worked in Ellensburg and Federal Way as a special education teacher and elementary school teacher.