Vancouver schools official to lead Washougal district

The Washougal School District has announced that Mike Stromme, a high-ranking administrator with Vancouver Public Schools, will become its new superintendent this summer.

Stromme, currently the associate superintendent for teaching and learning in Vancouver, will take over for Superintendent Dawn Tarzian, who plans to retire in June. His starting salary will be $130,432 per year.

Stromme has long been looking for an opportunity to take the helm in another Southwest Washington school district. Last year, Stromme found himself among the finalists to become the next superintendent of Ridgefield’s and Battle Ground’s school districts. He respectively lost out to Nathan McCann and Mark Hottowe.

Before moving into his current position, Stromme had stints as a spokesman for Vancouver Public Schools and was an interim superintendent for the Green Mountain School District. He also spent some time as a planner and associate principal at Skyview High School after about eight years as a teacher.

In a prepared statement announcing the hire Friday afternoon, Tarzian said she was impressed with Stromme’s knowledge of the district.

“He asked very thoughtful questions about the work being done by classified staff, teachers, administrators and the school board,” she said. “It was obvious to me that he is inspired and eager to become a part of our professional team.”

Stromme will take over at a time of growth for the district. In February, voters approved a $57.7 million construction bond measure to build several new facilities, including replacements for Jemtegaard Middle School and Excelsior High School, and a new elementary school.

Tarzian announced her retirement as the first vote counts were released, knowing her successor would have to shepherd the district through the construction process.