Asked during a press conference Feb. 28, why she chose Highline, the school district’s new superintendent, Susan Enfield pointed to the board, staff and people she had met here.

It just felt right,” Enfield declared.

Enfield said she looks forward to becoming a part of the community. Enfield and her husband have been living in different cities and she declared she can’t wait” for them to live together in Highline.

At the start of the press conference, board president Angelica Alvarez announced Enfield had been offered the job and had accepted.

Enfield added that her reasons for choosing Highline were both personal and professional. She said she wanted to stay in the area but work in a smaller district than Seattle. She has been serving as interim superintendent in Seattle but indicated earlier she did not want to take the permanent position there.

She was also a serious candidate for the Bellevue superintendent position. The Bellevue board just this week set up a public process to search for a new schools chief.

Alvarez said the board is expected to formally hire Enfield on a three-year contract at their regular board meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 29. Enfield will begin July 1.

Alvarez noted the board was impressed by Enfield’s passion.

In turn, Enfield said Highline’s board and the community impressed her. Her all-day interview process last Friday was the most enjoyable interview experience she has been through, Enfield noted.

Enfield said she wanted to make Highline’s motto, Success for every student, “not just a tagline but a promise.”

She said the challenges in Highline are much the same as in other districts, including budget cuts and educating students with high expectations.

Enfield said it is premature to state explicit goals for the district without taking the time to learn about the district.

But she said she wanted to give every student in every class a “fabulous education.”
“I won’t let this community down,” she pledged.