The Coupeville School Board named Sheldon Rosenkrance principal of Coupeville High School. He takes over for Phyllis Textor, who is leaving at the end of the school year.

Rosenkrance is currently principal at Oroville Junior High and High School, which is a 200 student school located in north central Washington.

Coupeville School District Superintendent Bill Myhr said Rosenkrance has a positive record of achievement wherever he has worked.

“The biggest thing with Sheldon is that he has proven in a high school building that he can change learning systems to improve student achievement,” Myhr said.

Myhr pointed out that WASL scores have improved in each of Rosenkrance’s three years in Oroville.

Rosenkrance said he likes the direction Coupeville High School is taking with the recent support of the Gates Grant.

In a Wednesday evening interview in front of residents at the Performing Arts Center, he said that he is impressed by community support for the District. He said he was also looking for a place that offers opportunities for his four daughters while remaining in an environment he enjoys.

“I’m a very strong believer in small towns,” Rosenkrance said.

Before coming to Oroville, he was a junior high/high school principal in the Mackay School District in Idaho. He was also the district’s school improvement coordinator, athletic director and head boys basketball coach.

Rosenkrance was one of three candidates interviewed Wednesday evening by residents. Other candidates were Mona Porter, who is assistant principal at Shorecrest High School in Shoreline, and John Kniseley, who is an assistant principal at Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo, Calif. Questions for the candidates ranged from student discipline and achievement to their opinions on athletics and extra-curricular activities.

In addition to the community interview, the candidates were also interviewed by students, administrators and teachers over a two day period.

Rosenkrance said he hopes to start his new job Aug. 1.

Textor is heading to Bellingham where she took a position as principal of Sehome High School.

The school district now has to find a new elementary school principal. Current principal Glenda Merwine will be the district’s new director of student learning.

The community can question candidates for the elementary school principal position on Wednesday, June 15, 6:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center.