About the Search
Tony Scurto, Superintendent of the Lane Education Service District, has announced his retirement at the end of this academic year. Over the past nine years, Tony’s leadership and dedication have been instrumental in the growth and success of the Lane ESD community. Prior to joining Lane ESD, he served for more than 20 years as a school administrator in the Pleasant Hill School District, including nine years as district superintendent. With 41 years in education, Tony’s impact is both significant and enduring. We thank him for his outstanding service and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.
The Lane ESD Board of Directors has launched their search for the next superintendent. Because hiring the right leader is a critical decision, the Board is prioritizing community engagement to inform the search. The Board has selected Human Capital Enterprises to facilitate a comprehensive recruitment and selection process with the goal of hiring the next superintendent to assume duties July 1, 2026.
We will be sharing important updates of the Superintendent Search Process below and hope that you will follow along in this journey for our next great leader. If you have any questions about the search we invite you to connect with us at superintendentsearch@lesd.k12.or.us.
News & Updates
The Lane Education Service District Board of Directors has announced Dr. Tenneal Wetherell as its next Superintendent. The decision took place during a special board meeting held at the district office on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Dr. Wetherell currently serves as Deputy Director of Operations at the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). Prior to her current role, she served as Chief of Staff at ODE and as Assistant Superintendent for the Office of Enhancing Student Opportunities, where she led Oregon’s statewide special education system. Dr. Wetherell brings more than 25 years of experience in K–12 education, including 10 years of prior service as an education service district superintendent, where she partnered closely with districts to support instructional services, special education, professional development, and regional collaboration. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Oregon and a Master’s degree in Special Education.
“Dr. Tenneal Wetherill has had a distinguished career in Oregon education for more than two decades,” said Leslie Harris, Lane Education Service District Board Chair. “She has served at every level in the education system, having been a teacher, a superintendent in another Education Service District, and most recently a high-level administrator in the Oregon Department of Education. Dr. Wetherell is well-known and highly respected throughout Lane County and the rest of Oregon. Lane ESD couldn’t have a better leader, and we are delighted that she will be joining us soon.”
Dr. Wetherell will assume her role as Lane Education Service District Superintendent on July 1, 2026.
“I am honored to serve as the next Superintendent of Lane Education Service District and to take on this important role,” shared Dr. Tenneal Wetherell. “Lane ESD has a strong reputation for partnership and service to our local districts, students, and families. I am excited to build on that foundation. I believe deeply in the power of collaboration, and I look forward to listening, learning, and working alongside school districts and community partners across Lane County to continue strengthening support for students.”
The Board of Directors is pleased to share an update on the Search for Lane ESD’s next Superintendent.
Following Semi-finalist interviews March 5th and 6th, the Board identified finalists. Those finalists were interviewed by a panel of internal and external stakeholders on March 12th, and then the finalists participated in in-person interviews with the Board on March 16th and 17th. At this time, the Board has identified a lone finalist and has entered into contract negotiations.
Pending the successful completion of this process, the Board anticipates taking action on the finalist’s contract and appointment at a Special Board Meeting tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, March 31st. At that time, the Board will publicly announce the next Superintendent of Lane ESD. We appreciate our community’s engagement and look forward to sharing this important news soon.
The recruitment window for LESD Superintendent applications will close on February 13, 2026. In the following days, the Board will review applications, references, and preliminary interview transcripts and will convene on February 23rd in executive session to select semi-finalists. Semi-finalists will be invited to interview virtually with the board on March 5th and 6th. From those interviews, the Board will select finalists.
A group of 13 internal and external partners, the Confidential Community Interview Panel, will interview the finalists on March 12, 2026. This confidential panel will provide feedback to the Board regarding each finalist. The Board has determined the composition of the panel, which will be facilitated by our search consultants, Human Capital Enterprises. It will include:
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Four Lane ESD Component District Superintendents
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Two licensed staff (one selected by the association, one selected by lottery)
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Two classified employees (one selected by the association, one selected by lottery)
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Three Assigned LESD Administrators (School Improvement, Special Education, Business Office)
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A Higher Education Partner
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A Community Workforce Partner
If you are interested in participating on the panel, please complete the Confidential Community Interview Panel Application Form no later than 4:00 pm on Tuesday, February 10. Interested participants must be available to participate from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm in virtual interviews with candidates on Thursday, March 12. Those selected by lottery will be notified on Wednesday, February 11th.
We hope that you’ll consider playing a role in this critical process for Lane ESD!
The Lane Education Service District (LESD) Board of Directors has adopted the Next Superintendent Criteria which will serve as the criteria for recruiting and selecting the next superintendent.
The Board and Human Capital Enterprises (HCE) will now enter the Recruitment Phase of the Superintendent Search. Please visit the Search Timeline for more details regarding next steps in the search process.
The Lane Education Service District (LESD) Board of Directors and Human Capital Enterprises (HCE) have completed the Public Engagement Phase of the superintendent search.
The Board would like to thank the staff, component school district partners, community partners, and members who provided their valuable feedback and input through 1:1 interviews, focus groups, and an online survey. Participants were asked about the district’s strengths, challenges, and the personal and professional qualities, attributes, skills, and experiences desired in Lane ESD’s next superintendent.
Based on the input received, HCE has developed a draft Next Superintendent Criteria which will serve as the criteria for recruiting and selecting the next superintendent.
Staff, educational partners, and members of the community are invited to provide public input on the qualifications to be included in hiring a new superintendent during a Special Board Meeting on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. We anticipate that the Board will finalize the Next Superintendent Criteria document after public input, review and discussion at that meeting.
Feedback on the draft criteria can be emailed here and is due by 7:00 pm, Tuesday January 13, 2026 for the Board’s review. If you have questions about the process, we welcome you to connect with us at superintendentsearch@lesd.k12.or.us.
Lane Education Service District is excited to have begun the search for our next Superintendent. The LESD Board has partnered with Human Capital Enterprises to lead the search.
The window for the Superintendent Search Survey has closed. Thank you for your participation!
We appreciate your participation and interest, and will continue to provide updates to you at each phase of the process.