Coupeville School District Board of Directors selected Jim Shank as the next district superintendent during a special board meeting last week.

Shank currently is superintendent of the Juab School District in Utah.

Since 1991, he has had experience as an instructional assistant, teacher of students with special needs, assistant principal, elementary and secondary principal, and director of federal programs and assessment in Washington, Idaho and Utah.

He obtained his Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership in May 2012.

In meetings with district employees, students, parents and community members, he described himself as a collaborative leader.

The district said he is familiar with common core standards and the revised expectations for teacher and principal evaluations.

The board approved a three-year contract with Shank, which includes a $120,000 annual salary.

His contract begins July 1, 2013 and ends June 30, 2016.

Prior to selecting the new schools chief, the board held a series of community meetings with the top three candidates.

Those candidates included Shank, Pam Estvold, current assistant superintendent for Anacortes School District and Russ Pickett, current superintendent with the Tenino School District.

Board members then reviewed feedback from the community as well as their own response to interviews.