From 16 to two: Hess, Woodruff come to town tomorrow

By Emily Mentzer, Lebanon Express writer

The school board has announced two finalists for the new superintendent: Rob Hess and George Woodruff.

The community is invited to meet and greet the candidates tomorrow, April 9, in the board room at the district office, 485 S. Fifth St. in Lebanon.

Hess will meet the community from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by his final interview with the board in executive session.

Woodruff will be available to meet the community from 7 to 8 p.m. His final interview will follow in executive session, starting at 8 p.m.

Hess is the assistant superintendent at Springfield School District.

Woodruff is from the South Coast Educational Service District in Coos Bay, where he is superintendent.

Hess serves as the student achievement leader of Springfield schools.

He also is an author, consultant, speaker and university professor at Breakthrough Schools.

From 2002 to 2005, Hess was principal at Pioneer School. Before that, he was principal at Lebanon Middle School for three years and assistant principal at Lebanon High School for two years.

Prior to his administration experience, he was a teacher for 10 years in various teaching settings, including LHS.

Hess has a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Biola University in Los Angeles. He received his teaching license in language arts from the California State University Los Angeles.

Hess earned his master's degree in education from Oregon State University and got his basic administrator's license from the University of Oregon.

He later earned a doctorate of education in educational leadership from UO.

Prior to Coos Bay, Woodruff worked in Washington. He served as the superintendent in Port Angeles School District.

Before that, he was assistant superintendent in Tumwater School District.

Woodruff was director of elementary education, director of pupil personnel services and director of special student services in Auburn School District.

He was director of special services in Vashon Island School District.

Over a four-year period, he held these positions in the Vashon Island School District: interim school psychologist, program coordinator, adjunct instructor, community college instructor and graduate assistant.

Woodruff went to high school at Ballard High School in Seattle, Wash.. He earned his bachelor's degree in philosophy and psychology, and then a master's degree in counseling psychology, both from Central Washington College.

He earned a doctorate of education with an emphasis on educational leadership from Seattle University before attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Fellowship.

Hess has received an award from the Confederation of School Administrators for "work involving teacher evaluation, student achievement and district improvement," according to his resume.

Woodruff received the Outstanding Community Service Award in Port Angeles, Wash., and the Native American Tribes of the Olympic Peninsula Outstanding Educational Leadership award, according to his resume.