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ISD New Superintendent, Heather Tow-Yick
Welcome Issaquah School District New Superintendent, Heather Tow-Yick
The Issaquah School District’s new Superintendent, Heather Tow- Yick, started her work on July 1, 2022. She began coordinating meetings with district and community leaders, and learning about the community to help create her First 100 Days Plan.
Before her role in the Issaquah School District, Superintendent Tow-Yick was the Deputy Superintendent of Mukilteo School District and formerly served as the Chief of Staff for both Teach For America and Providence Public Schools. Superintendent Tow-Yick said that she has dedicated her career to accelerating opportunities for students and communities. She shared that some of the top priorities for her in a professional environment include:
• Establishing trusting and transparent relationships rooted in shared interests and values.
• Effective and creative use of resources.
• Equity in action, requiring engagement, intentionality, and commitment.
Superintendent Tow-Yick earned a Master of Business Administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University Teachers College in New York, and a bachelor's degree from Brown University in Rhode Island.
She began her career in education by teaching English and U.S. History in the New York City Department of Education and has since continued holding positions of increasing responsibility over the course of her twenty-two years in education. She said she believes that Issaquah's commitment to raising the bar for all students is aligned with her values of academic excellence, team-building, and empowerment.
Superintendent Tow-Yick’s First 100 Days Plan
"Effective executive leadership transition is a critical step to success. This plan for my first 100 days as your new superintendent highlights various steps I am taking – such as meet and greets, events, activities and one-onone conversations – which will help guide my transition into the role of Superintendent of the Issaquah School District," she wrote in her welcome message. "It is my intent to listen, learn and engage as much as possible."
First 100 Days Goals:
• Build trust with all of our stakeholders.
• Create a smooth and successful transition into the role of the ISD Superintendent.
• Gain a thorough and deep understanding of the ISD community by learning its history, community norms, traditions and expectations.
• Assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges affecting the ISD to ensure alignment of our resources to meet the needs of all in our community.
Phase 1 – Pre-Launch (through July 31)
Goal: Prepare for the transition, establish relationships and gather foundational context for the district.
• Meet with each School Board member.
• Develop First 100 Days Plan in partnership with the School Board.
• Complete transition days with outgoing Superintendent Ron Thiele.
• Gather context and reflections from each Cabinet member.
• Offer opportunities for one-on-ones with principals.
• Gain a foundational understanding of district operations.
Phase 2 – Listen and Learn (Aug. – Sept.)
Goal: Meet with stakeholders to listen and learn about the needs and opportunities for the students, families and staff.
• Attend school-year kickoff meetings with district principals and administrators.
• Attend initial School Board retreat.
• Begin to visit all schools and operational sites.
• Continue to meet with principals and assistant principals for one-on-ones.
• Meet with labor leadership.
• Meet with family and parent groups.
• Meet with community partners/organizations.
• Meet with tribal leaders.
• Meet with local elected officials.
• Build relationships with local media.
• Review programs and initiatives.
Phase 3 – Engage (Sept. – Nov.)
Goal: Continue to gather insight about prioritized needs and opportunities through school visits, events and community engagement.
• Continue to visit all schools and operational sites.
• Establish relationships with neighboring district leadership, Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) and state education organizations.
• Continue to meet with family and parent groups.
• Meet with community partners/organizations.
• Meet with various student groups.
• Meet with local chambers of commerce.
• Conduct community forum.
• Update the community on progress and activities.
Phase 4 – Report Back (Nov.)
Goal: Communicate key priorities for what to continue, grow, shift or start for the next fiscal year, and lay a foundation for key priorities for strategic planning.
• Summarize findings from listening, learning and engagement.
• Determine implications for the short-term budgeting and long-term strategic planning.
• Share next steps and follow-up actions.
To read more about the First 100 Days Plan, visit bit.ly/ ISDfirst100DaysPlan.
Putting the plan into action, Tow-Yick visited all of the district’s school buildings and facilities in the first several weeks of school. She said she saw teachers and staff offering our students rich learning experiences, and enjoyed talking directly with students and staff.
