Finalist for Seattle Public Schools' superintendent drops out

SEATTLE — One of the three finalists for Seattle Public Schools' next superintendent announced Saturday evening that he was withdrawing his candidacy, according to a spokesperson with the Seattle Public Schools.

Steven Enoch, of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, sent the Seattle School Board an email deciding to drop out.

“I have concluded that what Seattle needs is a younger person, potentially able to provide longer stability and direction for the district,” said Enoch. “I'm not quite certain what I will do after I leave San Ramon, but I'll find ways to pursue my interests in urban education, global connectedness and leadership development, perhaps from the outside, if not the inside of public education.”

On April 19, Enoch, José L. Banda of the Anaheim City School District and Dr. Sandra L. Husk of the Salem-Keizer School District were selected for the role from a pool of 42 applicants by a 12-person committee search.

Seattle School Board president Michael DeBell released a statement of Enoch’s withdrawal.

"We enjoyed getting to know all three of our finalists last week and we are disappointed to learn that Mr. Enoch has withdrawn his candidacy. I want to thank Mr. Enoch for his interest in Seattle Public Schools and his commitment to public education. We know this is a two-way process and we want to find a leader who is a good fit for Seattle, and who believes Seattle is a good fit for them," Debell said.

The Seattle School Board will meet Sunday evening for a closed session to continue discussion of the two other finalists.

More information of the search process can be found here: http://bit.ly/SuperintendentSearchSite.

KIRO