Rainier superintendent leaving for directors’ association job

Another leadership change has been announced in Thurston County’s education scene.

Tim Garchow, superintendent of the Rainier School District, has been named executive director for the Washington State School Directors’ Association. The state association’s current leader, Alan Burke, is retiring.

The Rainier School Board was scheduled to meet with a consultant Wednesday to discuss options for finding a replacement for Garchow, who has led the 830-student district for six years.

“It’s both sad and exciting,” said Garchow, 41, of Tacoma. “It’s sad because I feel like I’ve become part of this community. ... I’m going to miss being able to high-five students in the halls. I’m going to miss calling bingo at the elementary school.”

WSSDA president Christopher Nation described Garchow as smart, driven and a champion for public schools.

“He is a creative and energetic educator who knows Washington’s K-12 system inside and out,” Nation said.

Before taking the helm in the Rainier School District, Garchow was superintendent and principal of Southside School District in Mason County. He has a bachelor’s degree from Pacific Lutheran University, a master’s from City University of Seattle, and superintendent credentials from Washington State University.

Garchow will begin his new job at the beginning of August.

“It’s definitely an exciting opportunity,” he said.

Andy Wolf, who has led one of Rainier’s neighboring school districts, Yelm Community Schools, recently announced that he is leaving to become assistant executive director of the Washington Association of School Administrators on July 1. The Yelm School Board appointed Yelm High School principal Brian Wharton as the 5,600-student district’s next leader.

This story was originally published May 12, 2016 at 4:26 PM with the headline "Rainier superintendent leaving for directors’ association job."