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The ESD 105 Board of Directors chose Myers on March 5 to succeed Jane Gutting as superintendent. Gutting announced last November that she would be leaving the agency at the end of June after 11 successful years leading the organization.
Myers has been the superintendent at Toppenish since 2003. He joined the Toppenish School District in 1983 as social studies teacher for one year before moving into administrative roles at the high school and district levels.
Myers has a nearly 39-year career in public education, starting as a fifth and sixth grade teacher and later high school social studies teacher at the Boone Grove School District in Boone Grove, Indiana. He eventually moved to Cape Fear Academy in Wilmington, North Carolina, to work as an English teacher during 1976-82 then as an upper school director during 1982-83.
He obtained his B.A. degree in Social Studies in 1970 from Grace College in Indiana, and his master’s of science degree in education from Indiana University in 1974.
“I think Steve brings to us the ability to deal with all levels of achievement, and bring improvement to those students,” said ESD 105 Board of Directors chairman J.P. Enderby. “He’s done a lot of really good things in Toppenish with early child development and has been successful in getting grant proposals in his district. He’s addressed the legislature. He knows them and they know him.”
As superintendent at Toppenish, Myers has facilitated the development of professional learning programs that have helped usher dramatic improvements in test scores and high school graduation rates at the 3,500-student district. He helped create an in-district preschool cooperative in partnership with regional organizations and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He also helped design and implement intervention processes for breakfast and homework clubs that have contributed to significant gains for students on state assessments.
During his tenure as Toppenish superintendent, the district has been honored by: U.S. News and World Report as having one of the best high schools in the nation; the U.S. Department of Agriculture for having the first elementary schools in the state to accomplish the National U.S. Healthier You Challenge; McGraw Hill/SRA for having one of four elementary schools in the nation to receive its Excellence in Reading Award; and Family Friendly Schools for implementing measures to engage families in student learning. Toppenish schools were also selected by the OSPI in recent years for its “Schools of Distinction” award.
“He brought the school that had many challenges up to the forefront in improving academic achievement over time,” said Enderby.
Myers has worked regionally with other school district superintendents within the ESD 105 area in helping improve instructional capacity programs at schools, and at the state level has served on OSPI’s Superintendents Advisory Committee.
“I am excited about continuing the cutting-edge learning that the ESD has provided through resources and services that result in intentional outcomes for student success,” said the newly selected superintendent.
AESD Role, Strategic Plan and Constitution
