WALLOWA — The Wallowa School District is getting a new superintendent.

But Tammy Jones, who is giving up her principal’s job in Snohomish, Washington, won’t have any trouble finding a place to live. She already owns a home in Joseph.

Jones, 57, who holds a doctorate in education, comes to Wallowa after 14 years as an elementary school principal in a relatively rural part of northwest Washington, about an hour north of Seattle. But she has deep Eastern Oregon roots.

Her career started in Eastern Oregon school districts, including Athena/Weston, Milton-Freewater, Helix and Pilot Rock. She served as the Hermiston School District’s director of special education and then as an elementary school principal.

Wallowa County has long held a special place in her heart.

“When my son, who’s 34 now, was only 2 years old, we were going up to the top of the tram and spending time on Wallowa Lake,” she said. “We camped over here all the time, fly-fished the rivers and hiked. My son married a local girl (Shana Beck), and they live in Joseph now.”

The Wallowa School Board’s vote to hire Jones was unanimous.

“I believe Tammy is well-suited to be the elementary principal and superintendent,” said Woody Wolfe, school board chairman. “She has a lot of experience, a very positive energy and is a real people person. She seems to be the right person for the job.”

Jones’ background includes a bachelor’s degree in special education for the hearing impaired, a master’s degree in elementary education and reading, and certification for principal and superintendent positions through University of Oregon and Lewis and Clark College. She earned her doctorate in educational leadership from Concordia University, Portland.

Jones starts in the local superintendent role July 1 and said she looks forward to piloting the Wallowa School District through the challenges that lie ahead.

“I’ve been really aware of Wallowa County, and especially the schools, for a long time,” she said, “My family lives here. What I saw in Wallowa was a very well-rounded school system that was focused on the children. The school really is all about kids and community relationships…. It should be at the heart of the community, and that’s what I noticed here.”

Jones said she wants to keep the community informed about what’s going on in the school.

“Communication is important,” she said. “I want the community to understand what’s going on learning–wise in the school, from science classes to music to recess. If people don’t know what’s happening, they don’t know what to celebrate.”

Jones also said she values school activities, such as music and intramural sports, that keep students engaged and communicating and gives them opportunities for leadership. She views school security as another important issue that goes beyond fences and locked doors.

“It’s partly how as a staff you train, how you train the students, and how to be aware,” she said.

One of her highest priorities is to continue planning Wallowa’s school renovation project and the upcoming bond. Her experience includes passing three bond measures, a number of levies and work on planning a new school where she became the principal. Community involvement is critical in such projects, she said. Planning for the school, she said, took meeting people in their homes and listening to them.

“My strength is bringing people together and developing relationships and a community,” she said. “We can be leaders in the county.”