Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra has hired a new point person for school safety and student engagement.
Ybarra announced on Friday that Eric J. Studebaker will join the State Department of Education as the director of student engagement and school safety.
Studebaker succeeds Matt McCarter, the longtime SDE official who held those positions until he resigned in May.
Studebaker most recently worked as vice president of student services at Columbia Gorge Community College in The Dalles, Ore. Studebaker also served as dean of enrollment at student services at College of Western Idaho from 2012-2016, and for the past four years has served on the faculty in Northwest Nazarene’s educational leadership doctoral program.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Studebaker to our department,” Ybarra said in a written statement. “His experience, commitment and passion for supporting schools and students to achieve make him a great choice for leading our efforts to advance student wellbeing, safety and opportunities.”
Studebaker is scheduled to begin work in mid-July, and his responsibilities will include advanced opportunities, GEAR-UP, student safety, student health and wellbeing, youth suicide prevention, driver’s education and 21stCentury Community Learning Centers.
