KINGSTON — Kingston Junior High School principal Ed Serra announced plans to resign from his post June 13 and pursue one of his career goals of becoming a superintendent.

Serra’s resignation comes at the tail end of a North Kitsap School District hiring frenzy that began at the start of 2006 with a quest to find leaders for two other resigned secondary principalships at North Kitsap and Kingston High schools and one vacated office after an interim period at Poulsbo Junior High.

Kathy Prasch, a secondary principal from San Jose, Calif. was named as the newest principal at NKHS May 11 and Matt Vandeleur, an assistant principal from Woodward Middle School on Bainbridge Island was selected April 27 as principal for Poulsbo Junior High.

The final decision for the principal post at KHS is expected to be made and recommended for approval at the June 22 regular school board meeting.

“It’s unfortunate what’s happened in those schools in North Kitsap, but it has nothing negative to do with this district, each of those people had an opportunity to further their careers,” Serra said of NKSD’s secondary principal overhaul in 2006.

During the past two years Serra has undergone superintendent training through Western Washington University and under the tutelage of the NKSD executive council.

With the process complete, Serra will be moving up in the administrative world to a superintendent post at the Clatskanie School District, in Clatskanie, Ore., starting in July.

Serra is leaving the district after four years of service in the same office at KJH where he has worked to develop a welcoming feeling at the school while ensuring students were provided the opportunities and support they needed to succeed.

“In the last two years, going through the superintendent process, it has forced me to think like a superintendent, so I definitely knew what the possibility of me getting a (superintendent) postion would do as I saw administrator openings unfold in this district,” Serra said, noting the resignation of the NKHS, PJH and KHS planning principal posts.

Serra said he wrestled with the idea of whether or not to pursue the position at this point and ultimately decided to move forward.

“As the district goes through this transition, it could be an advantage to find someone who can lead this school through this transition and be part of the long term,” Serra noted.

Speaking to whomever will take lead at KJH, Serra advises that they continue to strengthen relationships with the community and support the direction in which the district is forging. But most importantly, Serra said they must trust in the KJH staff.

“They are wonderful skilled professionals, and I mean everyone. All the people in this building are superb,” he said.

Currently, Serra’s replacement is unknown as NKSD Supt. Gene Medina did not return the Herald’s calls on the matter. However, it will likely be an interim principal as the main contracting and hiring season for school districts has passed.