Jeff Rose, a prominent Oregon educator, accepted Fulton County schools’ offer Thursday to take over as superintendent.
Fulton will pay him $295,000 a year, and Rose will join the district June 1.
Fulton announced tha he was the district’s sole superintendent finalist March 17, and by law, the district waited two weeks to offer the position to him so teachers, principals, parents and the community could provide feedback.
He replaces former superintendent Robert Avossa, who left last June to become superintendent in Florida’s Palm Beach County.
Rose, 43, has been superintendent of the Beaverton school district since 2011. He holds a doctorate in educational leadership and a master’s degree in teacher education from Lewis & Clark College in Oregon and a bachelor’s degree in education from California State University, Long Beach. Prior to joining Beaverton, he was superintendent of the Canby School District in Oregon for three years.
The board's move Thursday follows news in February that Fulton's first choice for superintendent withdrew as a candidate amid criticism over how his administration handled the alleged rape of a Clarke County high school student. Philip Lanoue, school superintendent in Athens since 2009, said he was no longer in the running to lead Fulton.
Rose was one of two other finalists, and was asked to take the job after Lanoue backed out.
One of Rose’s key challenges will be managing a larger system, which has 101 schools and close to 95,000 students. Beaverton, a suburb of Portland, has 51 schools and nearly 40,000 students. It’s the third-largest school district in Oregon.
“During his announcement visit earlier this month, Dr. Rose was able to briefly meet with school leaders and elected officials,” said school board president Linda McCain in a released statement. “Their interactions were extremely positive.”
Rose and his wife Lisa have a 12-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son who will attend Fulton schools.
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