Bremerton School District

An update from the Bremerton School Board

June 2, 2022

The Bremerton School District Board of Directors names interim superintendent for 2022-23

The Bremerton School District Board of Directors is pleased to introduce the interim Superintendent for the Bremerton School District.

Donna Dearin-Colosky has accepted a one-year appointment as the interim superintendent for the Bremerton School District for the 2022-23 school year. Her employment with the District, which was approved at tonight’s Board meeting, begins August 1, 2022.

Ms. Colosky is retiring from the Mercer Island School District after serving as superintendent the past five years. She is most proud of the work to elevate student voice, including adding student representatives to the board and revising the district's values, vision and mission statements to emphasize that "students are the priority."

Ms. Colosky brings 24 years of experience in educational leadership and 37 years total in public education. She is a native of Vancouver, British Columbia, who returned to the Pacific Northwest after a long career in public education in California including Superintendent of Paradise Unified District, and 27 years in the Apple Valley Unified School District in the High Desert area of southern California. During her tenure, her positions included Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, principal in charge of establishing a new, technology-based elementary school, elementary principal, assistant principal, master/mentor teacher and classroom teacher. Before joining Apple Valley Unified School District, Ms. Colosky was an elementary teacher for Keppel Union Elementary - a small, rural high desert district, where she taught primary grades and school-wide music.

“The Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Ms. Colosky to our district,” said Board President Alyson Rotter. “After an involved interim search process, we are confident that Ms. Colosky is the right fit to maintain the consistency and continuity the district needs while the Board engages in a full search later this year for the permanent superintendent. Ms. Colosky is an experienced leader with an extensive background that aligns well with several BSD initiatives, both current and anticipated. The Board was also drawn to her warmth and relational nature, which will be essential for staff, students and the community during this transition period,” she added.

Ms. Colosky and her husband of 34 years are excited to be relocating to the Peninsula and exploring the region as they transition to this next chapter of their life. They have two grown children, both of whom attended K-12 public schools and graduated from public universities. In her time spent outside of her passion for education, Donna enjoys hiking with her husband and dogs, kayaking, reading, cooking, gardening and yoga.

The Board will soon begin a search for a permanent replacement for Dr. Aaron Leavell who resigned this spring after accepting the position as Superintendent for the Educational Service District (ESD) 114 (Read the announcement).

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The Bremerton School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employee(s) has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Garth Steedman at 360.473.1031 or the Section 504 Coordinator, John Welsh at 360.473.4400. Mailing address: 134 Marion Avenue North, Bremerton, WA 98312.

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