BEND, OR -- Shay Mikalson is looking forward to becoming Bend-La Pine's new Superintendent of Schools.  The school board made the announcement Tuesday night.  Mikalson has worked in administration at Bend LaPine for the last couple years, but before that he was the Superintendent for the Redmond School District.  He tells KBND News he's humbled to follow current Superintendent Ron Wilkinson. "I said at the school baord meeting that not only do I have big shoes to fill, but I have a big heart to fill.  Ron is a leader who leads from his heart and that's what inspires me to work for him and I want to build on the success in our district and re-imagining our priorities forward."

School Board Chair Nori Juba says Mikalson singled himself out by demonstrating a clear vision for educational outcomes. He also challenged the board, and they liked that. "And one of the things he challenged as a board is we need to measure outcomes for what we're teaching.  And we need to get off teacher's plates things that aren't working.  So he has great vision adn ideas.  I know one of the first things he'll do is look closely at all the things we're doing today and see what's not making a whole lot of sense."

The school board plans to start contract negotiations with Mikalson in the coming days.  He'll take over on July first.