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Carol Whitehead, Director

Carol Whitehead, Ed.D., is the director of the Washington State Leadership Academy, as well as an instructor and coach.

Prior to these positions, Dr. Whitehead served as the superintendent of Everett Public Schools (2000–08), an ethnically and socio-economically diverse urban public school district serving more than 18,500 students and their families in Everett, Washington. During her tenure in Everett, the high school graduation rate increased from 49 percent to over 80 percent and WASL results exceeded state averages at every grade level and in all content areas.

Prior to moving to Everett, she was the superintendent in the Bremerton School District in Bremerton, Washington, and an assistant superintendent in Tacoma Public Schools, Tacoma, Washington. In her 40-year career in public education, she has also worked as a teacher, school principal, K–12 curriculum director, and as an adjunct professor for Western Washington University and Seattle University, and an associate professor at the University of Washington, teaching classes for students interested in becoming school principals or school district superintendents.

In July, 2005, Dr. Whitehead became the president of the Washington Association of School Administrators, a state-wide organization with over 1,600 members. Generous with her time, Dr. Whitehead has served on numerous community boards and has welcomed opportunities to share her knowledge and expertise while mentoring countless teachers, principals, school district administrators and superintendents.

She is frequently sought as a speaker at national and state conferences and by local community organizations and charities. Among her other accomplishments, Dr. Whitehead was presented the 2008 State Leadership Award from the Washington State Association of School Administrators; an Excellence in Educational Leadership Award from the University Council for Educational Administration; the Golden Achievement Award from the National School Public Relations Association; the Washington State Crystal Apple Award for her work in public relations and was selected by her colleagues in 2004 as the Washington State Superintendent of the Year.

Dr. Whitehead holds a Doctor of Education degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. She resides in Everett, Washington, and enjoys traveling and visiting her children and grandchildren who live across the United States.