Peoria Unified School District has named Kenneth Christopher Somers to serve as the district’s next superintendent, pending the result of successful contract negotiations and background check.

The board held an executive session Nov. 29 to discuss the finalists and is expected to officially approve him at a future board meeting.

He replaces former Superintendent Jason Reynolds, who resigned June 30 and served the district for about three years.

“I am prepared and eager to not only lead this school system, but also live in a community where I can build relationships and partner with families to ensure that all students receive the quality, personalized education they deserve,” Somers said in a press release.

For the last five years Somers has been serving at Lewis-Palmer School District in Monument, Colorado, which has performed in the top five percent of all Colorado schools, the release said.

Before that, he served in a variety of roles in school districts across Colorado including as the area superintendent of Aurora Public Schools.

He earned his doctorate in education from the University of Phoenix in 2013, and earned his master’s degree in education from the American Intercontinental University, as well as his bachelor of arts in psychology from University of Notre Dame.

The governing board considered three finalists for the position, took feedback from stakeholders and followed a vetting process outlined by consultant McPherson & Jacobson.

The other finalists were John N. Carman, the superintendent at Socorro Independent School District in El Paso, Texas and Jon P. Holmen, the superintendent at Lake Washington School District in Redmond, Washington.

Philip Haldiman can be reached at phaldiman@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman. We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.