October 2026 update

Blaine County

The Blaine County School District is searching for a new leader after Superintendent Jim Foudy announced he will retire on June 30, 2027.

Max McGee of the Illinois-based consulting firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) will perform the search. McGee led the district’s previous search that resulted in Foudy’s hiring.

Foudy formerly led the McCall-Donnelly School District. He took the reins at Blaine County in 2021 after former superintendent GwenCarol Holmes suddenly stepped down months before her planned resignation.

The district and HYA will hold community focus groups and forums in November and administer a constituent survey to gauge community needs.

August 2026 update

Hansen

Shane Hild became the superintendent of the Hansen School District earlier this year. He is a longtime resident of the Twin Falls area with degrees from Idaho State and Boise State Universities.

Kamiah

Kevin Beard, a former state employee who became a teacher at age 50, became superintendent in the Kamiah School District this summer, as Lyn Krzeminski of the Idaho County Free Press first reported. Beard, who grew up in Emmett, formerly taught at Caldwell High School.

The Kamiah board wants Beard to help expand career-technical offerings and the district’s Overture online learning program, Krzeminski wrote.

Beard replaces Paul Anselmo, who took a job as superintendent in the Genesee School District.

The Kamiah district is located on the Nez Perce reservation in North Idaho.

Clearwater Valley

Vincent Martinez became the superintendent of newly deconsolidated Clearwater Valley School District at a June board meeting, Hannah Hale of the Idaho County Free Press reported.

Martinez had been serving as interim superintendent of the district and principal of Clearwater Valley High.

April 2026 update

South Lemhi

Trustees hired Patrick Manning, who was superintendent of Nenana City School District in Alaska. He also oversaw a statewide distance learning program in Alaska.

“Patrick Manning brings the experience and leadership needed to navigate the unique challenges of rural education,” said South Lemhi Board Chair Thayne Kauer. The South Lemhi district serves around 100 students throughout Lemhi County in central Idaho.

Manning will succeed former Superintendent Shane Johnston. He left in 2025, and Shane Matson, a retired administrator, stepped in with remote assistance from Heather Williams, the Associate Executive Director of the Idaho Association of School Administrators who heads the association’s rural schools division.

Manning steps into his new role July 1.

Plummer-Worley

Victoria Carson, a Plummer-Worley alumnus and current principal at St. Maries Middle School, was trustees’ single finalist in their search for a new superintendent.

Carson has taught in the St. Maries district for 10 years and is honored by the prospect of returning to Plummer-Worley to “hustle for my people.”

Carson earned her doctorate in education from Northcentral University, now part of National University, in 2020.

Soda Springs

Trustees hired Lennart Theodore Erickson, a former Twin Falls School District administrator, as the next superintendent of the Soda Springs district.

After Superintendent Scott Muir’s announcement that he is leaving Soda Springs for the Aberdeen district, Soda Springs trustees extended a job offer to current Dietrich Superintendent Stefanie Shaw. Shaw turned it down. Shaw declined to comment on her reason for turning the job down.

Clearwater Valley

Trustees are interviewing two candidates, Steven Smith and Vincent Martinez, for the superintendent position at Clearwater Valley. Martinez is currently the interim superintendent.

The board will conduct interviews Tuesday, April 21, and make a final decision approximately a week later.

Grangeville

Grangeville trustees voted to hire their interim superintendent, Amanda Bush, as the district’s full-time superintendent. The Idaho County Free Press first reported her hiring.

Bush is also the principal at Grangeville High School.

March 2026 update

Idaho Department of Education

Alica Holthaus, former superintendent of the now-deconsolidated Mountain View district, was appointed earlier in March to be the state department’s deputy superintendent for North Idaho. She is succeeding Wendy Moore, who resigned last year.

Soda Springs

The East Idaho district’s board meets Thursday night, March 26, to discuss applicants for superintendent Scott Muir’s successor. Muir is going to be Aberdeen’s superintendent.

Clearwater Valley

The deconsolidating Clearwater Valley, formerly part of the Mountain View district, is waiting to review applicants.

Grangeville

The other deconsolidating half of the former Mountain View district is also waiting to discuss applicants, said Idaho School Boards Association’s Executive Director, Misty Swanson.

Moscow Charter School

Moscow Charter School administrator Tony Bonuccelli is looking for a change.

His position as head of the school is open for applications on the Idaho School Boards Association’s website.

Moscow Charter focuses on science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). The school staffs 15 teachers, 11 classified staff members and one administrator.

Bonuccelli has lead the school for 13 years.

“I decided it’s the best time to make a change,” he told Idaho Education news via phone call.

Bonuccelli cited behavioral issues among younger grades. One student can take up more than an hour of his day, he said. He’s also seen a “huge increase in special education needs.”

Bonuccelli thanked the school’s board, particularly board chair Leslie Baker, and staff. He’ll help his replacement transition into the school.

The application closes March 23.

Hagerman

Hagerman trustees named Troy Thayne, an assistant superintendent in the Marsh Valley district, to be the district’s next superintendent.

Previously, Thayne worked in the Alaska State Department of Education, Firth School District, Army National Guard and as a curriculum specialist at McGraw-Hill.

Aberdeen

Trustees selected Scott Muir, currently Soda Springs’ superintendent, to be the next superintendent of Aberdeen School District.

Whitepine

In Whitepine, trustees selected Amy Caessens from Pullman, Wash. to be the next superintendent. Caessens is a teacher in the Pullman school district.