Sandee Oehring and her husband wanted to move to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to their children. She will accomplish that goal when she becomes the principal of Olympic View Elementary School this fall.

The Oak Harbor School Board approved her hiring during its Monday evening meeting.

Oehring has held a variety of administrative and teaching positions in her 20-year career.

She recently served as superintendent of schools for the Teton County School District in Jackson, Wyo., on an emergency basis. Before that she served a variety of administrative positions for the school district, including director of curriculum and instruction and director of technology staff development. She taught at a variety of elementary and junior high schools in California before moving to Jackson in 1996.

Superintendent Rick Schulte said he was impressed with Oehring’s experience. He added that when Oehring toured Olympic View, she had good insights about the school.

Oehring was one of nine candidates interviewed. They were first interviewed by a panel consisting of six teacher, four administrators, two parents and two classified staff. The candidates also toured schools, went through background checks and a second, in-depth interview.

Oehring said she wanted the principal position because it offered more interaction with students and teachers.

With her hiring, she is busy familiarizing herself with the education system in this state.

She recently attended a conference sponsored by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. There she learned about state grade level expectations, early learning and development issues and the WASL.

Currently living in Sammamish, Oehring is planning to move into the school district.

When she moves here, she’ll be busy learning about the area.

“My big goal is to meet the community and find out what the needs of the community are,” Oehring said.

Oehring takes over for Marietta Wiener, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

Wiener isn’t the only principal retiring from the Oak Harbor School District.

Principal Ric Packard is retiring after spending the past four years at Clover Valley Elementary School.

The candidates interviewed for the Olympic View Elementary School position also interviewed for the Clover Valley Elementary School position. However, none of the remaining candidates were selected. School officials are looking at applications and may re-advertise the position.