January 23, 2024 3:40 a.m. 

On Friday January 19th, after completing a rigorous multi-state search, the South Umpqua School Board and screening advisory committee, consisting of school staff, parents, and community members, narrowed the diverse applicant pool to three finalists for the superintendent position.

The finalists are:

*Erika Bare:  Bare is currently the assistant superintendent for the Ashland School District. She has served in this role since 2021. She worked in other roles in the Ashland School District starting in 2012 with the exception of the 2019-20 school year when she was principal at Griffin Creek Elementary in the Medford School District. Bare earned a Master’s in Education from the University of Oregon and holds an Oregon Professional Administrator’s license.

*Brad Capener: Capener is the current superintendent from the Jefferson School District in Jefferson, Oregon and has held that position since 2018. Prior to that, Capener worked for the Salem-Keizer School District as a K-12 District Coordinator from 2010-2018. Before that, Capener worked for the Oregon Department of Education as an education specialist and team lead of all federal programs from 2007-2010. Capener earned a Master’s of Science in Education Administration from Portland State University and holds an Oregon Professional Administrator’s License

*Carl Simpson: Simpson is the current principal of South Umpqua High School. He has served in this role since 2018. Prior to that, Simpson worked for the district as a special education teacher on special assignment from 2015-2017 and as a special education administrator for the Douglas Education Service District from 2017-2018. Simpson earned a Master’s of Education in Special Education from Oregon State University and holds an Oregon Administrator’s license.

The school board will begin reference checks over the next several days. Each perspective candidate will be invited to a Finalist Forum on Monday January 29th. At that time, staff, students and members of the community will have an opportunity to meet the candidates. It will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the high school library. Comment cards will be provided for participants to share thoughts with the school board.