Superintendent
Dr. John Parker, Superintendent
Dr. John Parker has broad leadership experience as a teacher, instructional coach, principal, director, and superintendent. He is an exceptional collaborative leader who builds the capacity of others by modeling bold and courageous leadership action, while leading with compassion and accountability. He is dedicated to personal and systems improvement and is innovatively minded, emboldening the academic potential of all learners. His breadth of global educational leadership includes serving in China, Puyallup, Colombia, and now Spokane.
Dr. Parker has served as superintendent of Central Valley School District since 2022 and has a strong commitment to community engagement and collaboration. His active involvement includes serving on the United Way Board of Directors, the Spokane Workforce Council Board, and as an ex officio member of the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce Board. These roles reflect his dedication to fostering partnerships that enhance educational and economic opportunities in the region. In recognition of his leadership and impact, Superintendent Parker was awarded the 2024 Robert J. Handy Most Effective Administrator Award for large districts sponsored by PEMCO and the Washington Association of School Administrators, underscoring his effectiveness and influence as an educational leader.
Dr. Parker began his leadership journey as a secondary science and mathematics teacher for 15 years in the Puyallup School District. He taught honors courses and served as curriculum leader, department chair, and many district committees. He coached several sports, but especially enjoyed coaching football, gymnastics, and baseball. Dr. Parker and his wife, Ashley, ventured internationally and spent three years at Shanghai Community International School (SCIS) in Shanghai, China; he taught advanced placement chemistry and completed his principal certification at Lehigh University during this time. At SCIS, he served as dean of students and was promoted to high school principal, graduating the school’s first class of seniors.
With the birth of their two youngest children, he and Ashley returned to the states, where he enjoyed working in the following leadership roles over ten years: director of English language learning and categorical programs, director of technology, director of instructional leadership, and chief academic officer, where he served as an area superintendent overseeing operations of nine schools with 8,000 students. He received his doctorate in Education Leadership and Policy Studies through the University of Washington’s Leadership for Learning program, emphasizing equity and social justice. In 2019, they had another opportunity to travel overseas and serve in administrative roles at Colegio Nueva Granada, an international school in Bogotá, Colombia. There, Dr. Parker served in a senior leadership role for three years as director of innovation before a planned return to the U.S. in June 2022.
Dr. Parker brings his broad, local and international experience to lead and serve our outstanding Central Valley schools, students and community.