Portland School Board Picks Bob McKean as Interim Superintdent

One month after Portland Public Schools Superintendent Carole Smith abruptly quit on the heels of a scathing report on the district's handling of a lead crisis, the district has a new leader.

At least temporarily.

The school board has decided to hire Bob McKean, the former superintendent of the Centennial School District to lead the schools on an interim basis.

McKean, who has spent 37 years as an educator - working as a teacher, principal, director of curriculum and instruction, and assistant superintendent before leading the Centennial district for seven years, will serve for one year.

The district, during that time, will conduct a nationwide search for a permanent replacement for Smith.

"We look forward to introducing Bob to the community prior to our vote this evening," PPS Board Chair Tom Koehler said. "Bob brings extensive experience as a manager and an educator.

"His record of advancing equality in education with a commitment to accountability and transparency is exactly the kind of leadership we need during this interim period as we identify the best candidate to fill the job permanently."

McKean was one of 11 candidates who applied for the job. All eight members of the board interviewed the five finalists. Those five were whittled down to two.

One of those two, the district says, withdrew for personal reasons.

That left McKean.

McKean is currently a member of the Board for All Hands Raised, a non-profit focused on improving academic and career opportunities for youth in Multnomah County.

Before becoming a teacher, he spent 11 years as a U.S. Forest Service smokejumper.

He spent most of his educational career in Maryland and Montana, teaching elementary, middle and high school. He also served as a principal of three elementary schools before moving into an administrative role as director of curriculum and instruction for Havre Public Schools in Montana. From that role McKean was appointed as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for Missoula County Public Schools before serving as Superintendent for Centennial.