Deputy Superintendent Shelly Whitten will become the district’s next superintendent following the retirement of Denny Waters

Earlier this spring Battle Ground Public Schools announced that Deputy Superintendent Shelly Whitten will become the district’s next superintendent following the retirement of Denny Waters. In addition, the following administrative changes will take effect beginning on July 1, 2025. 

Primary schools

• Pleasant Valley Primary: Principal Craig Pearson has accepted a position in Evergreen Public Schools. Solina Adelson-Journey will step into the role of principal. Her previous experience includes working at Educational Service District 112 and as an assistant principal at Daybreak Primary School.
• Glenwood Heights Primary: Assistant Principal Jen Havig has accepted a position with Woodland Public Schools. The assistant principal position at Glenwood will be filled by Prairie High School Principal Susannah Woehr. 

Middle schools

• Laurin Middle School: Principal Eric Sakshaug is moving to Prairie High School, and Prairie Assistant Principal Kelly Torrez has been named Laurin’s principal for 2025-26. Laurin Dean of Students Everett Klodt also is moving to Prairie High School.

High schools

• Prairie High School: Prairie Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Stephanie Watts will become the school’s principal. Eric Sakshaug and Everett Klodt will serve as assistant principals. Klodt also is the school’s new athletic director.

Alternative schools

• River HomeLink: Assistant Principal Susan Smith has accepted a position in Ridgefield Public Schools. Her position at River HomeLink will be filled by Battle Ground Virtual Academy Principal Matt Stanfill.
• Battle Ground Virtual Academy: Summit View High School Principal Kevin Palena will serve as BGVA’s principal in addition to continuing his duties as principal at Summit View. Palena previously provided administrative leadership and support during BGVA’s first year of operation.

More administrative changes

• Human resources: Director of HR Luke LeCount is leaving BGPS for Ridgefield School District. La Center School District Assistant Superintendent and Director of Student Services Lauri Landerholm has been named Battle Ground’s new director of human resources.
• Assistant superintendent: Lynnell Tsugawa-Murray, previously the district’s director of federal programs, has been named assistant superintendent. The assistant superintendent role replaces the deputy superintendent role previously held by Shelly Whitten. Tsugawa-Murray will oversee the district’s teaching and learning, as well as ensure district compliance with state and federal regulations regarding harassment, intimidation, and bullying; civil rights; nondiscrimination; and Section 504/the Americans with Disabilities Act. Some of these compliance regulations were previously managed as part of a director position that was eliminated due to the district’s double levy failure. 

With one superintendent and one deputy superintendent, Battle Ground has fewer superintendent-level positions than many districts of a similar size. Battle Ground serves approximately 13,000 students. A review of eight similarly sized districts, with enrollments between approximately 10,000 and 15,000 students, showed that all maintain between three and five superintendent-level positions.

Information provided by the Battle Ground School District.