AFTER FIVE YEARS AS Superintendent of the Ridgefield School District and 33 years as an educator, Art Edgerly will retire at the end of the 2013 school year.
When the dust settles on the massive renovations to improve the facilities in the Ridgefield School District, there will be someone new at the top to oversee the next phase of its future.
Art Edgerly, superintendent of Ridgefield School District since 2007, will step down from his position at the end of current school year. Edgerly announced his resignation and retirement effective on June 30, 2014, during a regular meeting of the school board of directors on Oct. 8. The board unanimously approved Edgerly’s resignation.
“I’m truly grateful to have the opportunity to serve such a great community like Ridgefield,” said Edgerly. “The overwhelming support and commitment to public education from this community is second-to-none.”
As Ridgefield School District superintendent, Edgerly helped the district improve student learning. Under his guidance, the district’s Leadership Team implemented the Large-Scale School Improvement Model, developed by Harvard University’s Leadership Institute, to focus on reflective practices that support increased student learning. These strategies, which included School Improvement Plans specifically designed for each school, successfully increased Ridgefield School District’s state test scores across all grades.
In addition, Edgerly guided the district to pass its first bond for school construction in 21 years in February 2012. The $47 million investment is adding new and updated facilities to all four schools in the Ridgefield school system and is scheduled to be completed in time for the opening of the 2014 school year.
“Art’s passion about education and his integrity in his work has made working with him over these past seven years a wonderful and rewarding experience,” said Julie Olson, current board president.
Fellow board members echoed Olson’s sentiments.
“Art stressed high academic standards throughout his tenure and ingrained himself in the community,” said Scott Gullickson, current board vice-president. “He does what’s best for the schools, the staff, and the students, and he understands what makes Ridgefield such a special and unique place to live and work.”
“Art has been incredibly valuable in setting the vision for Ridgefield School District,” said Joseph Vance, school board member. “His contributions and emphasis on high academic achievement helped improve student learning across the board.”
Edgerly’s early notification of his intent to resign gives the school board of directors a substantial amount of time to seek his successor, a task the board members believe Edgerly made easier due to his many successes as superintendent.
“He will definitely be missed,” said Olson. “The next superintendent will be incredibly fortunate to have such a good foundation thanks to Art and his leadership.”
“Ridgefield has a growing school district, and thanks to Art’s guidance, has excellent test scores, improved capital facilities, and great community support,” agreed Vance. “We think Ridgefield will be attractive to the top candidates and are confident that we will be able to find an exceptional new superintendent to help guide our district forward to new heights.”
Edgerly’s retirement concludes a 33-year career in public education. Edgerly started as a K-12 classroom teacher in the Battle Ground School District, followed by serving as principal of elementary and secondary schools in Wapato School District, Superintendent of Wapato School District, and concluding as superintendent of Ridgefield School District.
Retirement brings new opportunities for Edgerly as he plans to pursue other aspirations including joining with a partner to launch a new professional consulting firm.
