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Seattle school board picks first Native American superintendent

Denise Juneau most recently worked as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Montana.
The Seattle School board unanimously voted to enter contract negotiations with Denise Juneau for the superintendent position.

The search for Seattle's next Superintendent appears to be over. Wednesday evening the Seattle School Board narrowed down the finalists to Denise Juneau.

Juneau most recently worked as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Montana.

The board will begin discussing contract negotiations with Juneau before voting on a final contract on April 25.

If confirmed, she will take over the position effective July 1. The Seattle Times reports she would be the first Native American superintendent in the city's history.

"Selecting a superintendent is the most important responsibility a school board has,” said Board President Leslie Harris. “Throughout this process, this board has sought feedback, listened closely and thoughtfully reflected on what characteristics we need in our next superintendent.

In addition to being the first Native American woman to win statewide office in Montana, she also became the state's first openly gay candidate during her run for Congress in 2016.

RELATED: Seattle Superintendent finalists face public questioning

Seattle Public Schools received 63 applications and conducted five interviews before narrowing the search down to three finalists. Juneau was up for the position against Dr. Andre Spencer, Superintendent of Harrison School District Two in Colorado Springs, and Jeanice Kerr Swift, Superintendent of Schools in the Ann Arbor Public Schools.

Denise Juneau Resume on Scribd

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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