Camas school board down to one superintendent candidate

The Camas School Board is likely to name John Anzalone, an assistant superintendent from the Clark County School District in Nevada, as Camas’ next superintendent of schools.

The school board met in a closed executive session on Dec. 7 to discuss its top superintendent candidates, which included Anzalone as well as Heidi Harris, an assistant superintendent at the Auburn School District in Auburn; Michelle Kuss-Cybula, superintendent of the 849-student Cle Elum-Roslyn School District in Cle Elum; and Camas School District Assistant Superintendent Charlene Williams.

Camas School Board President Tracey Malone said the board considered feedback from staff, students, parents and community members before naming Anzalone and Kuss-Cybula as its top contenders.

“This was a challenging decision as all four candidates have distinguished backgrounds and experiences in stepping into the role of superintendent,” said Malone. “We felt both John and Michelle had the potential to be the best fit and leader for Camas.”

After informing both candidates of their selection on Dec. 8, the board said Kuss-Cybula withdrew her application, “indicating that it was in the best interest of her community to remain in her current position.”

School board members intend to visit Anzalone’s school district in Nevada early next week, and “pending the outcome of the visit,” will likely begin contract negotiations with Anzalone.

If he accepts the board’s offer, Anzalone would likely begin his new position with the Camas School District on July 1, 2022.

The district started its search for a new superintendent following the March 2020 resignation of Superintendent Jeff Snell, who had led the Camas School District for the past decade — as deputy superintendent from 2011 to 2016 and as superintendent since 2016. Snell left the Camas district in July to become superintendent of Vancouver Public Schools.