February 19, 2025

MVSD Superintendent Update: Board Selects Three Finalists, Invites the Community to Weigh In

Dear Methow Valley Students, Parents, and Community Members,

We are pleased to announce that the Methow Valley School District (MVSD) Superintendent Search and Selection Process has reached an important milestone. Following the completion of the application deadline, screening, reference checks, and preliminary interviews, the MVSD Board of Directors has selected three finalists who will advance to the final round of interviews scheduled for Tuesday, February 25th. The three selected finalists include: Julie Price, Tom Korst, and Grant Storey.

The final round of interviews will take place throughout the day, with each finalist participating in meetings with various stakeholder groups. The process will conclude with a Superintendent Finalists Community Forum at 7:00 pm in the Methow Valley Elementary Library. This forum will provide an opportunity for members of the community to listen to each finalist respond to a series of pre-selected questions developed using information previously gathered from surveys and focus groups, and provide written feedback to the Board of Directors. The input received during this session will play a key role in helping the Board make its final decision.

In advance of the Superintendent Finalists Community Forum, we've included a brief biographical sketch written by each finalist:

Julie Price: Julie Price grew up on a farm and attended a small rural school district, experiences that instilled in her a profound respect for community, resilience, and the transformative power of education. She firmly believes that a strong school system is the heart of a thriving community—an outlook shaped by her many years teaching and leading in both rural and suburban environments.

Julie began her career in public education teaching sixth grade in a middle school setting, followed by roles teaching eighth-grade mathematics in a PACE block and seventh-grade math and science in a junior high. In 2006, she earned her Middle Childhood Generalist National Board Certification, then transitioned to teaching in a K–6 elementary building. During her time as a Teacher on Special Assignment, she served as a district math coach in the Central Valley School District, contributed to math range-finding experiences for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and wrote summative benchmark assessments for the Mead School District.

Over sixteen years in the classroom and ten years as a TK–6 principal, Julie has championed professional learning communities to create highly engaging, data-informed instruction that drives continuous academic growth. Collaborating with outside agencies, she helped establish an early childhood transitional kindergarten program, an effort that underscores her commitment to strengthening foundational learning for every child. Her own educational path—beginning in a small rural community, leading to a community-college credential as a registered dental assistant in San Diego, continuing with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and culminating in a Master’s in Teaching and Principal Certification at Whitworth University—reflects her deep belief in lifelong learning. Most recently, she completed a two-year Superintendent Certification through Washington State University in May 2020, further preparing her to guide Methow Valley Schools forward.

Grounded in the network of her family, Julie has been married for 36 years to a retired United States Navy veteran and business owner. Beyond her passion for education, she loves reading, gardening, and exploring the outdoors through the curious eyes of her three small grandchildren. This commitment to family and community remains at the heart of her leadership philosophy, one she is excited to share with the Methow Valley School District.



Tom Korst: Hello, my name is Tom Korst and I am the proud single father of Aubrey (16) and Carter Korst (18). My roots originate from the plains of Great Falls, Montana and I earned a BS in Business and English education from Western Montana College in Dillon. I taught in Nevada for a few years and then returned to Montana in 2000 where I pursued a Masters in Educational Leadership, and landed my first leadership position as the Superintendent and Principal in Valier, MT. Since then, I have spent time building relationships with various grade level staff, students, and parents, and have settled in as the Hamilton Superintendent of Schools for the last 13 years while pursuing an Ed.D. from The University of Montana.

All good things have an ending and a new beginning, and I am the precipice of both. I chose to leave my position in Hamilton with two years left on my contract to continue challenging myself and allow the Hamilton district to seek a new voice for their next chapter. I have nothing but good things to say about the Hamilton community and school district, and I believe that would be reciprocated. I am pursuing a new path in this one life afforded to us. I have friends and family in the Washington and Oregon region and I am curious how this Montanan might do in the Pacific Northwest.

I love to read, listen to music, amateur cook, and all things outdoors, including Nordic and downhill skiing, rafting, paddleboarding, flyfishing, and I am always on the lookout for a music festival. My German shorthair pointer, Bruno, is the latest addition to my family as I transition to a bit of an empty nester. I hope we have many adventures together and the Methow Valley looks to hold a few.

I believe the superintendent operates best as a visible and highly capable community member. I believe all students are one caring adult away from success and that our mission as committed educators is to help each child write their own personal success story. I am a product of such adults and do what I can to return the favor to the next generation.



Grant Storey: Dr. Grant Storey has over a decade of experience in education and a strong background in teaching, program management, and leadership. He is currently the Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Dual Credit Coordinator for the Methow Valley School District, where committed to the District’s aspirational vision to develop curious, creative, compassionate, competent, action-oriented citizens prepared to change the world, he has led efforts to transform career-focused education and expand opportunities for students to explore career pathways aligned with their strengths and interests. Dr. Storey’s work is focused on building community partnerships and securing funding to improve CTE and other district programs, resulting in nearly a million dollars in grants for the district.

Dr. Storey’s career in education began in Seattle Public Schools, where he made a significant impact as a teacher and coach. He earned recognition as a Distinguished Teacher multiple times (2016-2020) and was honored as a “Rock Star” Career and Technical Education Teacher in 2021. He also held leadership roles, including Head Cross-Country Coach, Head Advisor for the HOSA Future Health Professionals Chapter, and Teacher Leader at Cleveland STEM High School. In addition to teaching, he worked on a variety of collaborative projects, including the development of a curriculum for the University of Washington's Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering and educational outreach for the Institute for Systems Biology.

Since joining the Methow Valley School District in 2021, Dr. Storey has been a key driver of CTE growth, significantly increasing student participation and access to these programs. In 2024, 71% of the graduating class completed a distinct CTE pathway, and many of those students earned industry-recognized credentials or dual credit. Dr. Storey’s leadership extends to supporting the creation of opportunities for students in dual credit. Working with district teachers and in partnerships with institutions like the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and Wenatchee Valley College, students can earn key college credits while still in high school, with some earning up to 25 credits by graduation.

Dr. Storey is deeply involved in the local and regional community, collaborating with local businesses, higher education institutions, and community organizations to create real world learning opportunities to increase students' access to high-demand, livable-wage careers. Notable examples include working with The Methow Valley Elder Care Network to increase student training in healthcare fields, work with the Western Washington University Sustainability Pathways program to create paid student summer internships as part of the Youth Sustainability Corp, and work as a member of the district's Washington Student Achievement Council Regional Challenge Grant team to create earn to learn opportunities in local trades.

Dr. Storey’s contributions to the Methow Valley have been recognized with the 2023 Regional Network Visionary Award, which honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional foresight and innovation in career-connected learning. His work continues to focus on creating opportunities for all students, ensuring they have access to career pathways, industry certifications, and college credit, while expanding and preserving partnerships throughout the valley and region.

Dr. Storey and his wife were married in the Methow in 2012 and have been living full-time with his family in the valley since 2020. They cherish the close-knit, welcoming community, the intentionality in which life is lived, and how the entire community is singularly focused on its commitment to the growth, discovery, and the boundless potential of its youth. He has two smart, independent daughters that are thriving at Methow Valley Elementary School. Outside of work, Grant enjoys camping, playing hockey in the Methow Hockey league, skiing at the Loup, and recreating on the river or one of the valley’s many lakes.

We value your continued participation and engagement in the process. Your feedback has been instrumental in shaping the direction of the search and will remain a critical factor in the final decision.

We appreciate your time, dedication, and ongoing support as we work together to ensure the success of our schools and the future of our district.

In partnership,
Dana Stromberger
MVSD Board Chair