Renton School District officials interviewed the third and final candidate, Crystalee Sweeting, for the superintendent position on Thursday.

Sweeting is Puyallup school’s current assistant superintendent of instruction, learning, and curriculum. She went through the same interview schedule as earlier candidates did this week and chose to tour Highlands Elementary School for her site visit. Her day ended with a public meeting at Kennydale Elementary School and culminated in her interview with the School Board.

The Renton Reporter sat down with Sweeting to ask her the same five questions posed to all the superintendent candidates. The two other candidates are Merri Rieger from the Kent School District and Lester “Flip” Herndon from the Bremerton School District.

Former Renton schools chief Mary Alice Heuschel left the district in January to become Gov. Jay Inslee’s chief of staff. Vera Risdon is the interim superintendent for Renton until the new chief takes office July 1.

Why this job in Renton?

Sweeting has been looking at superintendent positions for several years and was attracted to Renton because of the district’s mission and vision statements.

“I’m looking for a place that wants a superintendent who is an instructional leader,” she said. “(Someone) who believes strongly that their purpose is to assist the entire organization, so system-wide, to be in service of improved instruction, increased student achievement and learning.”

Sweeting has 38 years of experience in education, not counting this current year. She received her undergraduate degree from Central Washington University and her master’s, superintendent credential and doctorate from the University of Washington.

“I want to come to Renton because it aligns with my core values and I see the value of instructional leadership,” Sweeting said. “I also know that in Renton there is a solid foundation – not that it’s perfect – but a solid foundation of community support and partnerships. I want to be able to augment what already is a solid foundation and a solid success by stepping out and reaching under-represented groups.”

What about your experience prepares you for Renton’s diversity?

Sweeting thinks of diversity on many levels and her experience in two large districts has prepared her for that, she said. Federal Way and Puyallup, her past school districts, have more than 20,000 students, compared to Renton’s roughly 14,300.

“When I think of diversity, I have that core value of all people and that being different is a valuable thing and that we’re all different,” she said.

When she arrived in Puyallup, she said, the district was dealing with the aftermath of a lawsuit brought because the district was said to not be culturally responsive or competent. Race was the issue.

“So over the last 14 years, we have engaged in intensive culturally responsive training and awareness,” she said. “And (asked) kind of,’Can we go deep into some of what are biases are, what are some of our belief?’”

Initially the work was somewhat surface level, but the district has delved deeper, although it’s not perfect yet, Sweeting said.

She pushes people to examine whether they are being passively racist or indifferent, she said.

What skills do you bring to Renton?

“One of my strengths is that I can pull people around the vision and the mission,” Sweeting said. “And I can pull the community together and rally and bring people together around that and hold that high, knowing that’s why we’re here. I’m collaborative and transparent in that process.”

She points to her experience teaching at all levels. Sweeting has taught at elementary, middle and high schools as well as served as an assistant principal and principal before moving to administration in the central district offices. She has worked with the most challenging students as an English as a Second Language teacher and a special education teacher.

“I also bring the attitude that assumes positive intent at all times,” she said.

What’s the last book you’ve read?

“I’ve finished “Enhancing Professional Practices” (by Charlotte Danielson) and I’ve started “MindSet” (by Carol Dweck),” said Sweeting.

The first is a framework for teaching and the latter explores research on achievement and success.