Superintendent

Closing date: Mar 16, 2026

THIS POSITION WILL BE REOPENED IN THE FALL OF 2026

The Rochester School District…

The Rochester School District is privileged to educate 2,135 preschool-twelfth-grade students in our five schools: Rochester High School, HEART Alternative High School, Rochester Middle School, Grand Mound Elementary, and Rochester Primary. Our students are supported by 138 certificated educators, 123 classified staff, and 12 administrators. Meal and transportation services are contracted.

The district recently adopted a new Strategic Plan at the start of the 2025 school year, which will guide our work over the next several years. Built with input from staff, students, families, and community members, the plan reflects our shared commitment to student success at every level. At the center of the plan is our Core Values as a district:

Accountability
Community Minded
Respect
Health and Well-being of Students and Staff

As a district, We promise to know, value, and support every student, ensuring they graduate with confidence and skills for a successful future. The Strategic Plan outlines four district goals that will focus our efforts:

Students build Success in Foundational Skills
Students feel Safe, Supported, Connected, and Engaged Students demonstrate Achievement of Core Academics Students are prepared for Graduation and Beyond

In addition, the plan includes the Portrait of a Graduate, providing a clear vision of the characteristics we want every Rochester graduate to develop, including a healthy mind and body, critical thinking, responsibility, community & socially minded, a good communicator, and resilience.

The Rochester School District is known for its relentless pursuit of system improvements that enhance outcomes for all students. The district focuses on engaging and supporting students, families, and staff through effective instructional practices, a wide range of opportunities that foster a strong sense of belonging, and offering powerful professional development. The district and community are proud of their students, educational programs, and the highly skilled educators who lead them.

High school students can participate in Running Start, College in the High School, Advanced Placement, dual-credit courses, and an extensive Career and Technical Education program that offers ten pathways students can participate in on campus, including welding, robotics, sports medicine, business, and more.

For more information about the Rochester School District visit: www.rochester.wednet.edu

For more information about the Rochester School District Strategic Plan visit: District Strategic Plan

Email from Northwest Leadership Associates

The Rochester Community…

Rochester is a growing, unincorporated community located in Western Washington, approximately 20 miles south of Olympia, just off of I-5. Residents of Rochester enjoy life in a beautiful, rural setting with tremendous recreational, cultural, and social activities readily available. The district is located 90 miles from the White Pass ski area, 85 miles from Seattle, 90 miles from Portland, and only 60 miles from the wonderful beaches of the Pacific Ocean.

Rochester is culturally and politically diverse, and is the proud home to many members of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, a growing Latino population, descendants of Rochester’s Swedish founders, and those who value rural living within close proximity to the full-service hospitals and extensive retail shopping and support services of the neighboring communities of Olympia and Centralia. Many residents also commute to nearby communities for work.

Without a city government, the Rochester School District provides an important voice for issues that impact our community, and school activities serve as a valued gathering place for residents. Rochester School District prides itself on being the heart of the community.

For more information about the community visit: https://www.experienceolympia.com/our-communities/rochester