Orozco finalist for Spokane superintendent opening

Whitefish School District superintendent Kate Orozco is a finalist for a superintendent job in Spokane, Wash.

Orozco was set to interview with the East Valley School District on March 3 as one of three candidates being considered for the open position.

She says she applied for the job for a chance at living closer to family in the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho area.

“We recognize our youngest children are needing us to be present in their lives now as much as ever,” she wrote in an e-mail to district employees.

“Please trust me when I express how difficult this is, and how much I love our Whitefish kids, staff and community.”

In May of last year, she was one of four finalists for a superintendent position in Medical Lake, Wash., but was not selected for the job.

Orozco has a three-year contract with the district, although a superintendent can resign at any time.

She was hired in 2011. Before coming to Whitefish she was the associate superintendent in North Platte, Neb.

She received her bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees from Gonzaga University in Spokane.

She spent six years in Spokane with the Small Schools Project, and worked as an adjunct professor with Gonzaga.