Tekoa finds new superintendent in Palouse

TEKOA — On its website, the Tekoa School Board announced that the District’s following Superintendent selection is Mr. Mike Jones.

Succession is subject to the completion of contract negotiations and final board approval.

District Business Manager of Tekoa Schools District, Lisa Hass, stated that the change was due to Cordell’s retirement.

Jones will begin the half-time position on July 1, 2023, and will succeed Mr. John Cordell.

Jones is excited to work with Tekoa and to be able to continue to work in Palouse.

“It provides an opportunity for both of us to grow, and I look forward to it,” he said.

“The District was grateful and fortunate to have two outstanding and highly qualified, equity-focused superintendent candidates to choose from,” stated the Tekoa School Board in their letter to the community.

Jones has been the Superintendent/Principal at the Garfield-Palouse High School and Palouse Elementary School since 2021. Before 2021, he was the Principal of the Palouse School District beginning in 2015. An educator since 1998, Jones started his academic career in the LaCrosse School District 1998.

Jones looks forward to the opportunities Tekoa provides for its staff and students and the role he may play in further developing community relationships and academics for the District.

The ability to impact students with new opportunities and experiences is a passion of Jones. As well as including continued alignment of curriculum and a focus on student achievement

Through course development, the opportunities to grow current programs and new programs is something Jones hopes to bring to the District.

“Both Palouse and Tekoa have their board meetings Thursday night,” Jones said, noting that it’s still time to work on things, and it’s all pending approval at the board meetings.

“This is all very new right now,” Jones said, “so it’s going to be a matter of meeting with Mr. Cordell, who has done a great job continuing the things he’s doing.”

The Tekoa School Board will vote to approve Mr. Jones’ hiring and to execute a three-year contract with him at the next school board meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 27, at 6:00 pm.