Effective July 1, Woodland School District Assistant Superintendent Asha Riley will succeed Superintendent Michael Green, who will retire after 17 years of working for the district.
The Woodland Public School District (WPSD) Board of Directors announced its immediate selection of a new superintendent following a special board meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 27.
Riley has been the district’s assistant superintendent since 2014. The release said she served as principal for both Lewis River Academy and Yale Elementary and as professional development administrator for Evergreen Public Schools prior to her position in Woodland.
“I am humbled, grateful and excited by the opportunity to ensure that every Woodland child receives an excellent education,” Riley said in the press release. “Woodland is known for having excellent staff and a strong commitment to children. Serving this community is a privilege that has brought me great joy over the past 14 years, and I look forward to leading the district towards a bright future.”
The district board stated in the release that its decision to choose an internal candidate, a shift from its initial plans, is due to the district’s need for “stable and effective leadership.” The district’s decision will forgo a superintendent selection search, as a result.
Board President Jeff Wray said that Riley is the right leader at the right time for the district.
“Her deep understanding of the district’s financial landscape, coupled with her commitment to academic excellence and broader community engagement, positions her as the ideal candidate to steer Woodland Public Schools towards a sustainable and prosperous future,” Wray stated in the press release.
The announcement follows the passage of a Feb. 13 educational programs and operations levy. The loss of the district’s previous levy in 2023 brought significant budget cuts to the district, including the removal of all middle school level sports, staff reductions and infrastructure projects. WPSD will not receive levy funding until 2025 and will face budget cuts for the 2024-25 school year,according to the press release.
Riley was one of three finalists for Ridgefield Public School’s superintendent position. On the same day of WPSD’s announcement, RPS announced that she withdrew from her position, reducing the district’s field of candidates to two. Riley's decision to join WPSD sped up RPS's selection process. WPSD did not acknowledge Riley’s previous candidacy for Ridgefield superintendent in its announcement.
