Port Angeles School Board OKs contract for new superintendent

PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles School Board has approved a contract with Marc Jackson as the district’s new superintendent.

Jackson, presently a school district superintendent from Southern California, will take over July 1.

He is replacing Jane Pryne, who is retiring June 30 after five years leading the district.

Board members voted 5-0 Thursday night to approve a $155,000-per-year contract with Jackson, whom they had selected in March.

Pryne said she plans to work with Jackson in the weeks before her departure to ensure a smooth transition.

She is paid $141,4532 per year.

Jackson’s three-year contract requires he live within 5 miles of Port Angeles School District boundaries and provides a $4,000 moving stipend.

Jackson comes from Yermo, Calif., where he is superintendent at the Silver Valley Unified School District east of Barstow.

Jackson holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of La Verne in California; a master’s in education from California State University, Fullerton; and a bachelor’s degree in history from La Verne College.

Assistant superintendent

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, School Board members appointed Gerald W. Gabbard as district assistant superintendent.

Gabbard comes to Port Angeles from Estes Park, Colo., where he has served as director of support services for the Estes Park School District since 2011, district spokeswoman Tina Smith-O’Hara said.

She added that pay for Gabbard, who will take over from interim Deputy Associate Superintendent Mary Ann Unger, has not been decided yet.

Gabbard holds a bachelor’s degree in music education and piano performance from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis.; a master’s degree in administrative leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; and a doctorate in educational leadership from Capella University in Minneapolis, Smith-O’Hara said.

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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.

Reporter Arwyn Rice contributed to this report.

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