Idaho Falls narrows superintendent’s search to 7

Devin Bodkin | 02/19/2021

IDAHO FALLS — The Idaho Falls school district has narrowed its search to replace longtime superintendent George Boland to seven candidates.

Trustees held a special meeting last Friday to review job applications from a pool of 11 candidates, the district announced in a news release.

Here are the finalists:

Jon Abrams, Superintendent, Laramie Co. School District (Laramie, WY)
Kelly Coughenour, Assistant Superintendent, Idaho Falls School District (Idaho Falls, ID)
Dr. Destry Jones, Assistant Superintendent, Firth School District (Firth, ID)
Dr. Sylvia McNeely, Superintendent, Wanette Public Schools (Wanette, OK)
Dr. Matthew Neal, Superintendent, American Creativity Academy, Kuwait (Kuwait City, Kuwait)
Dr. Eric Pingrey, Superintendent, Walker Hackensack Akeley Independent School District (Walker, MN)
Dr. James Shank, Superintendent, Cassia County School District (Burley, ID)

Boland announced his plan to retire in December after 15 years leading the East Idaho district. His time in Idaho Falls caps off a 40-year career in public education.

Further reading: Click here for an updated list of other superintendent openings.

Devin Bodkin

EdNews assistant editor and reporter Devin Bodkin is a former high school English teacher who specializes in stories about charter schools and educating students who live in poverty. He lives and works in East Idaho. Follow Devin on Twitter @dsbodkin. He can be reached by email at [email protected].