t Both final

candidates for superintendent love area, enthusiastic about district.

POULSBO — The search to find a new North Kitsap School District superintendent has boiled down to two very enthusiastic finalists. On Wednesday afternoon, the district named Richard Jones, superintendent of the Burlington-Edison School District in Burlington, and Mary Vedra, executive director for learning services for the Arapahoe County School District in Englewood, Colo., according to a prepared release.

“I’m truly thrilled to be a finalist for the position,” Vedra said. She had the opportunity to visit the area during a family vacation, and like many before her, she fell in love.

“When I saw the position open up and I went to look at the district’s initiatives, it seemed like a fit for me. That’s why I went through the application process,” she said.

She is most impressed by the district’s guiding principles document, which details common goals and expectations for the district. In addition to the guiding principles, she also stands behind all-day kindergarten.

“These are some of the things I believe in. I have two sons myself, and I’m looking for a school district that I believe in,” she said.

While the district is the main attraction, the atmosphere is a bonus.

“You have a diverse community,” she said. “To raise my children in that environment would be fabulous.”

While Vedra’s children — a fourth-grader and a fifth-grader — would finish out their remaining school years in the district, Jones is at a different stage in his family life.

Jones’ seven children range in ages from 18 to 33.

“One of the reasons this opportunity would be so wonderful is at I’m at a place to make a change like this,” he said. “My family is grown and it would just be a great opportunity to work there.”

An avid jogger, bicyclist and indoor soccer player, Jones, too, is enraptured by all the North End has to offer.

“The waterfront on all three sides, the mountain view; it’s centrally located … it’s just a ideal place because you can go anywhere in a short time from there,” Jones said.

From his research into the district — he, too, is impressed with the guiding principles and the community’s diversity — he’s determined that NKSD is a good professional fit for him.

“There are some wonderful things going on there,” he said. “It’s very impressive that you had the community support to build a second high school.”

Both finalists will visit the area April 29 to May 1 to tour the schools, and meet teachers, administrators, tribal member and the community, according to the release.

Community members interested in meeting the candidates can attend a community reception at 7 p.m. on April 30 at the Student Support Services Building, 18360 Caldart Ave. NE in Poulsbo.