School Board Director & Tahoma HS Principal Positions Decided
The vacant Tahoma School Board Director and Tahoma High School (THS) Principal positions were filled this week. Interviews were conducted publicly for the School Board position while a community forum was held for the THS Principal position. This allowed the community to observe part of the appointment/selection processes that took place.
Information provided from the Tahoma School District
School Board Director (Position 5) - Matt Carreon Appointed
Matt is a Navy veteran with 9 years of service that included tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a Naval Academy graduate and earned an MBA from the University of Washington. He is also the proud parent of two TSD students, and he and his family have lived in Maple Valley for 10 years.
“I’m proud to step into this important role that supports our students in meeting high expectations, embracing the diversity of our schools, and celebrating their accomplishments with our community. I also understand my responsibility to be transparent and accountable to our neighbors, and I’m looking forward to building partnerships with the families and taxpayers of our district.”
Matt is scheduled to take the oath of office at the Tuesday, April 5 board meeting.
Director Carreon’s position will be considered “appointment filled” until the next School Board election cycle in 2023, at which point he will be required to seek election into the position.
School Board Director Position 5 candidate interviews courtesy of Tahoma Education Advocates
Tahoma High School Principal - Judy Beliveau Selected
Beliveau attended school in the Puyallup School District, and her parents were both educators in the Tacoma School District. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Health and English Education from Central Washington University and earned a Master’s degree in School Administration from Western Washington University. Her career began as a middle school English teacher, coach and athletic director in the Snoqualmie Valley School District. She has also served as an assistant principal in the Sumner School District, a part-time educator for City University of Seattle, and she filled a variety of teaching and administrative positions for 13 combined years with the Kent School District.
Beliveau has been an associate principal at THS since 2018. Since joining THS, Beliveau’s areas of focus include ELA, Health & Fitness, Power Hour, and overseeing the school’s master schedule, which guides the approx. 200 staff and 2,700 students.
After interviewing multiple candidates, and a site visit, Beliveau was selected as the lone finalist who the hiring committee advanced to a community forum on March 14. During that forum, Beliveau answered questions that were submitted by stakeholders. The next day, the hiring committee reached consensus to move forward with recommending Beliveau to Superintendent Hanson. Following a final interview with Hanson, Beliveau was recommended to the School Board, who approved her as the new principal.
“Tahoma has always had a reputation for being a top district in our region,” Beliveau said. “That’s what brought me here, and I’ve stayed because the staff and students are amazing. There’s a school board, district office, and 200 high school staff who all put students at the center of their decision-making. The parents and larger community are appreciative and are great partners in supporting kids. Who doesn’t want to be part of that?”
