The Rochester School District announced that Dr. Jennifer Bethman had been selected as its next superintendent in a news release on Friday.
The decision, which is pending contract negotiations, was unanimously agreed upon by the Rochester School Board.
Bethman is currently employed as the assistant superintendent of secondary education for the Bethel School District. She had previously served as principal of Graham-Kapowsin High School and Bethel Junior High School. She has taught multiple subjects at schools in both Washington and Illinois.
Bethman has a doctorate in education from Washington State University.
Bethman will take over for current Rochester superintendent Kim Fry on July 1. Fry, who has worked for the Rochester School District for 32 years, has accepted a position with the Washington Association of School Administrators.
In the announcement, Rochester School Board President Grant Rodeheaver stated, “We are very excited to have selected Jennifer Bethman as our next superintendent. She is a strong and proven leader who will continue to focus on quality educational opportunities while leading our students to new levels of learning.”
Bethman, who in applying to the superintendent position described Rochester as having “a reputation of educational excellence,” announced that her priorities are to build relationships with, and learn about, the local community.
She also mentioned the importance of examining the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s education, saying, “I will review data to learn more about students’ learning loss as a result of the pandemic to prepare for our ongoing work with those students.”
