Following a monthslong search, Woodland Park District RE-2 has its next superintendent.

During a special meeting on March 16, the Board of Education unanimously selected Ginger Slocum, who had been acting as their interim superintendent since August. Over the past seven years, Slocum has worked in RE-2 as a principal and chief academic officer.

“This district is more than a workplace to me,” Slocum said shortly after the board’s vote. “It’s a community I care deeply about and a place where our children’s futures are shaped every single day.”

The decision comes just over a year after former Superintendent Ken Witt resigned.

Slocum’s selection is the result of a multistage search process dating back to June that included community member interviews with 42 participants, a public forum facilitated by Grundmeyer Leader Services, the district’s search firm, and formal interviews with the board in executive session.

Board President Keegan Barkley, who first met Slocum as the principal of Columbia Elementary when her children attended, said she and other board members ultimately chose her largely because of what the community indicated it was looking for in its next superintendent.

Specifically, this included somebody who is an established member of their community, who understands what both the district and Teller County are going through and who is committed long-term.

“Looking at the current issues and opportunities facing the districts at the present moment, we (the board) just felt that Ginger would be the one who would meet the needs best in this moment,” Barkley said.

During her interim capacity, Slocum has begun developing a new strategic plan, established committees to advance district priorities and taken steps to rebuild community trust. This has included hosting Teller County veterans at the district, meeting with the Woodland Park Mayor Kellie Case and reestablishing school safety partnerships with the Teller County Sheriff’s Office and the Woodland Park Police Department.

“Over the past eight months, I’ve had countless conversations with parents, teachers, students and community members. Every one of our discussions included a deep love for this district and this community,” Slocum said.

“That love and passion for our students is our strong foundation.  From this foundation, I will lead us into a strong future with relational stability, valued transparency, fiscal responsibility and respectful governance.”

During her interview with the board last week, Slocum said she intends to drop the controversial American Birthright social studies standard and return to state-approved standards. She also seeks to expand the district’s career and technical education offerings, provide more interventions for students with learning gaps, implement whole-child support systems and reapply for grant funding the district previously used.

Following their interviews with the three finalists, the board deliberated their final decision for six hours in executive session, pulling from all the public feedback gathered and considering each candidate’s strengths and weaknesses.

“From her experience here as a teacher and then as a principal and then as an administrator, she really went through the ranks from each level. So, we just felt good about her level of experience and understanding here in the district,” Barkley said.

“There were some candidates with more experience at the superintendent level already, and there’s never an easy decision when making such an important hire, and we just felt that going with Ginger would be the easiest path forward for us.”

While the board approved Slocum’s appointment during their Monday meeting, they didn’t approve the superintendent contract as presented, agreeing that some of the language needed to be adjusted from an interim superintendent to a permanent one.

Slocum’s current contract as interim superintendent runs through July 1, which will be followed by her new contract.

“I think the overall message and feeling is that we have the groundwork laid to move forward with some of the important issues that the district is facing,” Barkley said. “And there’s just a level of excitement and hope in the community going forward, and we’re really looking forward to it.”