Ketchikan school board names three finalists for superintendent, schedules on‑site interviews in February
January 17, 2026 | Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska
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The Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District Board of Education voted 7–0 on Jan. 17 to invite three finalists for the district’s superintendent position to on‑site forums and interviews in Ketchikan in February 2026. The finalists named by the board were Sherry Bullard, Kara Forebear and Dr. Anthony Graham.
The board entered executive session in the afternoon to review confidential candidate material; according to the clerk, no action was taken while the board was in executive session. After the board reconvened in open session, Member Ginter moved to select the three finalists and Member Tabb seconded the motion. The roll‑call vote was unanimous.
The board’s facilitator from the Alaska Association of School Boards (AASB) told members that the district is anticipating on‑site finalist interviews on Tuesday, Feb. 10 and Wednesday, Feb. 11, with finalists likely arriving the evening before. An AASB facilitator, Katie Oliver, summarized the planned structure: “We are anticipating that your any external candidates would arrive … on Monday, February 9,” and that interviews typically run about 75 minutes each, with built‑in breaks.
Board members emphasized next steps: AASB will coordinate logistics with district staff, the board will finalize interview questions (selected in executive session), and the district will circulate a draft press release once finalists accept their invitations. The board also discussed travel support and companion arrangements for finalists; AASB advised that airfare is typically covered, lodging is shared when feasible and per diem is not paid for a plus‑one.
The vote to select finalists followed the board’s earlier unanimous motions to enter work sessions focused on the interview process and later to re‑enter a work session to review board roles and a draft press release. The board clerk recorded that the selection motion passed 7 to 0.
Next procedural steps: AASB will confirm finalist availability, the board will finalize the on‑site schedule and interview questions, and public forums and staff surveys will be used to gather community input before the board’s deliberations.
The board entered executive session in the afternoon to review confidential candidate material; according to the clerk, no action was taken while the board was in executive session. After the board reconvened in open session, Member Ginter moved to select the three finalists and Member Tabb seconded the motion. The roll‑call vote was unanimous.
The board’s facilitator from the Alaska Association of School Boards (AASB) told members that the district is anticipating on‑site finalist interviews on Tuesday, Feb. 10 and Wednesday, Feb. 11, with finalists likely arriving the evening before. An AASB facilitator, Katie Oliver, summarized the planned structure: “We are anticipating that your any external candidates would arrive … on Monday, February 9,” and that interviews typically run about 75 minutes each, with built‑in breaks.
Board members emphasized next steps: AASB will coordinate logistics with district staff, the board will finalize interview questions (selected in executive session), and the district will circulate a draft press release once finalists accept their invitations. The board also discussed travel support and companion arrangements for finalists; AASB advised that airfare is typically covered, lodging is shared when feasible and per diem is not paid for a plus‑one.
The vote to select finalists followed the board’s earlier unanimous motions to enter work sessions focused on the interview process and later to re‑enter a work session to review board roles and a draft press release. The board clerk recorded that the selection motion passed 7 to 0.
Next procedural steps: AASB will confirm finalist availability, the board will finalize the on‑site schedule and interview questions, and public forums and staff surveys will be used to gather community input before the board’s deliberations.
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