Crosspoint’s superintendent honored for dedication to learning excellence

For Eric Rasmussen, leadership is integral to developing the next generation of community activists.

For Eric Rasmussen, leadership is integral to developing the next generation of community activists.

As superintendent of King’s Schools — which includes Bremerton’s Crosspoint Academy and King’s Schools in Shoreline — Rasmussen has spent the better part of the past decade working to promote his message.

“We are trying to develop the next mayor of Bremerton, or the next great civic leader,” he said.

Corban College recently honored Rasmussen for his work in education, presenting him with its 2009 Distinguished Alumni of the Year award at a special ceremony during its homecoming weekend. Rasmussen earned his bachelor’s degree in education from the college in 1987.

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“He’s a very distinguished person in his field and he is a good person,” said Deleen Wills, director of Alumni Services at Corban College and a member of the committee that selected Rasmussen.

King’s schools are affiliated with CRISTA, a global non-denominational christian organization that includes Seattle Urban Academy, a high school for at-risk youth in the Rainier Valley area.

Rasmussen did not grow up in a particularly religious household, though he became more involved with Christianity through friends during high school. When he graduated Corban College, employment in a Christian education system was not his highest priority, but after a year teaching in Salem, Ore., he and his wife moved to Seattle, where she enrolled in nursing at the University of Washington.

Rasmussen said he was attracted to CRISTA because of its academic background, as well as its history of community service in less-developed countries around the world.

“We go to some of the places where not even the relief organizations will go,” Rasmussen said.

He began teaching at King’s Junior High School in Shoreline, before moving into administration. He served as principal of King’s Junior High, followed by interim superintendent in 2001-02 and eventually superintendent.

He also coached girls basketball at King’s Junior High for 17 seasons before the demands became too great in his current job.

“He’s a man of integrity and feels called to do what he’s doing,” said Bob Lonac, president of the local chapter of CRISTA. “He’s spent his life equipping himself so he does well. He really cares about the kids.”

Along with the school’s annual requirement of 40 hours of community service, Rasmussen has created what he called “dynamic leadership teams,” to help the students learned problem-solving techniques.

“We want them to own their own leadership growth and be people,” he said.

He also has worked to improve the school’s math, science and technology programs. This past year, CRISTA hired a technology academic coordinator, who has helped the program add Smartboards and other new products to its system. His priorities also include promoting Christian values, working with alumni and expanding CRISTA’s work in Kitsap County along with the organization’s established programs in the Seattle area.

But for Rasmussen, whose three daughters attend King’s schools, rigorous, academic excellence will always be his overarching focus.

“It’s a pleasure to be so involved with their lives,” he said. “We want to give our students a broad picture.”