Los Alamos Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Gerry Washburn has been hired to lead the Roseburg School District in Roseburg, Ore.

“I’m very excited,” Washburn told the Los Alamos Daily Post a few minutes ago. “It’s a tremendous opportunity and I am honored.”

Washburn succeeds Superintendent Larry Parsons who is retiring.

“We had some excellent choices from Oregon and several other states in our field of 19 candidates for the superintendent position,” Board Chair Rod Cotton said. “After extensive interviews, reference checking and a tour of our district for the finalists, Gerry Washburn emerged as the right fit to be our next Superintendent.  As he met with students, staff and community, he received strong support for his personable approach, depth of knowledge and passion to become a part of our school community.”

Washburn moved to Los Alamos from Santa Rosa in 1984 to work at Los Alamos National Bank. He began coaching at the schools in 1995 and began working for the district in 1996.

He has served as assistant superintendent since 2013. His other administrative positions at LAPS have included director of Human Resources for a year and elementary school principal for three years. He taught elementary school and coached at Los Alamos and at Pojoaque Valley Schools for 10 years. In 2000, he was named New Mexico’s 4A Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.

“I hope I’ve made a positive impact on the students and consider it an honor and privilege to be associated with Los Alamos Public Schools,” Washburn said. “It’s going to be hard to leave our friends and extended family here but we look forward to this new opportunity.”

Roseburg School District has a student population of 6,200 pupils and is comprised of nine elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. The City of Roseburg is about 65 miles from the Pacific Coast at an elevation of 465 feet and has a population of 22,275 people.

“It’s very beautiful and reminds me in many ways of Los Alamos before the fire … it’s very green with trees growing right up to the edge of town,” Washburn said.

Washburn is scheduled to begin his new position July 1 but said final details are still being worked out.