Omak High School Principal John Belcher will join Mount Si High School staff in July as the new principal. The Snoqualmie Valley School Board unanimously approved his hiring on Thursday, May 26, concluding a months-long talent search to fill the role Randy Taylor will leave June 30.

Before announcing his choice for principal, Superintendent Joel Aune said all three finalists were excellent and any one of them would have been successful at the high school, but he said Belcher "separated himself through the process.... We think he's a rising star."

Belcher was introduced at the meeting and met briefly with a few citizens before he had to leave the meeting. He said that he planned to move to the Valley as soon as he could, adding that he'd "fallen in love with North Bend and Snoqualmie."

Belcher has been principal at Omak High School for seven years, and has been a teacher and administrator for 16 years. He holds a Bachelor's degree in biology and a Master's degree in education from Western Washington University. He earned his principal certification in 2004 from Seattle Pacific University, and a superintendent certification from Washington State University in 2010. He starts as Mount Si Principal July 1.

The district's job posting for the Mount Si principal position lists the salary range for the principal at  $108,047 to $123,297.

To honor Taylor, Mount Si High School will host a reception Tuesday, June 14, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Wildcat Court. Retiring physical education teacher Jan Job will also be an honoree.

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