Finalists announced for CDA school post

Two veteran educators are finalists for the Coeur d’Alene School District interim superintendent position, the district announced Thursday.

Neither is local, though both are Idahoans.

“In evaluating the applicants, the Board put strong emphasis on prior superintendent experience,” said Casey Morrisroe, chair of the district’s board of trustees.

Both finalists fit that bill for a job that will last one year. During that year, Morrisroe said, the district will be seeking a permanent superintendent to replace Matt Handelman, who is leaving for an administrative job in a Washington school district.

Below are brief biographies on the finalists. They’ll be interviewed next Tuesday, with a selection made soon after the interviews.

Peter McPherson

McPherson is the superintendent and federal programs director for Challis Joint School District No. 181, a position he began in 2014. During his 20 years in education, McPherson has also served as a high school principal, department chair and athletic director. He is a member of the Superintendent’s Cabinet for Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra. McPherson has an education specialist degree from Northwest Nazarene University and a master’s in arts teaching with an emphasis on education administration from Walla Walla University.

Stanley Olson

Olson currently works in the private sector for an educational service company after spending more than four decades in education. He has served as the superintendent for both the Boise Independent School District and Natrona County School District. During his career, he has been an assistant superintendent, adjunct faculty instructor, executive director of communications, and principal. Olson has a doctor of education degree from Western Michigan University and a master’s in education from Eastern Michigan University. In 2010, Olson ran unsuccessfully against Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna.