The Kalama School Board is pleased to announce that Dr. Wesley Benjamin has been unanimously selected as the district's next superintendent, effective July 1, 2024 - subject to the successful completion of contract negotiations.
Benjamin, who currently resides in Forney, Texas, was offered the position after an extensive search and community engagement process that included staff, student and family surveys, public forums, and focus groups. He comes to Kalama with 11 years of administrative experience in education, and three years of experience as a classroom teacher.
“My family and I are filled with gratitude and excitement as we prepare to join Kalama School District,” said Benjamin. “I am deeply honored to have been selected as your next superintendent and cannot wait to get started. The warmth, community spirit, and commitment to excellence we've witnessed resonate deeply with us. We are eager to plant our roots here, embracing the natural beauty and the strong, supportive community that makes this place so special. Go Nooks!”
Wesley Eader, Chair of the Kalama School Board, said input from students, staff, administrators, and community stakeholders proved to be extremely helpful throughout the selection process.
“On behalf of the board, I want to thank everyone who chose to be a part of this process,” he said. “We look forward to welcoming Dr. Benjamin and his family to our district, and we’re excited to work together on moving our district forward and into a future that will enable all of our students - each and every one - to be successful.”
In light of Benjamin's appointment, Jennifer McCallum, who has been serving as the district's interim superintendent, will return to her previous role as the principal of Kalama Middle School next school year, continuing to contribute her expertise and leadership within the district.
“Mrs. McCallum has done an awesome job as our interim superintendent,” said Eader. “She truly is a great leader and person, and we thank her for stepping into the interim role this year. We’d also like to acknowledge and appreciate the work of our district’s executive secretary, Teresa Young, and the work of Dr. Steven Lowder, our consultant with the search firm McPherson & Jacobson. Without each of their efforts, this process would not have been successful.”
Getting to know Dr. Wesley Benjamin
In describing his leadership approach, Benjamin writes that he is “deeply rooted in building collaborative, trust-based relationships, ensuring that each voice within the educational community is heard and valued.”
Some of his most notable accomplishments while serving in leadership roles at Forney Independent School District (Forney, TX) include:
Spearheading advanced academic initiatives that successfully increased AP exam pass rates from 55.6% to 73.6% across all subjects
Elevating Forney High School to become one of the elite 50 high schools nationwide to earn the Capturing Kids' Hearts® National Showcase School designation (2023)
Implementing innovative trauma-informed student behavior management strategies, achieving a 63.4% reduction in trauma-related behaviors
Increasing College, Career, Military Service Readiness (CCMR) rates among graduating seniors from 51.1% to 82.4%
Benjamin has a Bachelor's Degree in Theology from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas, a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of North Texas, and a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership from Texas Tech University.
Married for nearly 18 years, he and his wife have three children - one in 1st Grade, one in 4th Grade, and one in 6th Grade.
Discovering Kalama
At Wednesday night’s candidate forum, Benjamin explained that he was immediately drawn to the Pacific Northwest during his first visit to the region last summer. Wanting to see more, he returned on a family vacation in October, and on that trip, a bit of serendipitous car trouble led him to Kalama.
“We’re driving down I-5 in my rental minivan, and I suddenly get that little warning light that says low tire pressure. We take the next exit, and that exit happened to be Kalama, Washington,” he recalled. “We drove around this beautiful town and got to know the area. We came up and looked around at the schools. It was just so beautiful, and we fell in love with this entire area. Ever since then, we’ve been watching opportunities and following Kalama, specifically.”
When asked by a community member if he views the district as a stepping stone to a future career opportunity, Benjamin offered a firm, passionate response.
“I’m about to move my family across the country for a vision for our life. I only want to do that once,” he said. “There is a life that we have envisioned for our family - that is here.”
Video: Click here to view Dr. Wesley Benjamin’s March 20th community forum