The Centralia School District board of directors unanimously approved the hiring of Heidi Bunker as the next principal of Centralia Middle School in its meeting Wednesday night.
Bunker lives with her family in Chehalis and most recently served as the principal of Yelm Middle School since 2011.
Before her role in Yelm, Bunker was principal at Pioneer Intermediate/Middle School in Shelton from 2007 to 2011.
“Heidi comes with extensive administrative experience in middle schools that are very similar in size and demographics to Centralia Middle School,” interim superintendent Steve Warren said in a press release. “She’ll be able to hit the ground running as she transitions into leadership at CMS.”
Bunker earned her bachelor’s degree from Central Washington University for school health education in 1999 and a bachelor’s of science in biology education the same year. She earned her master’s degree in professional development from Heritage University in Toppenish in 2006 and obtained her principal certification in 2007.
She will begin her role on July 1, although principals of the district typically have the month of July off.
She will be replacing current CMS principal Greg Domingos who in May was demoted for his role in the district’s use of the Medicaid Match Program. The program was determined fraudulent by the state Attorney General’s Office and the settlement cost the district $372,000 last year.
Internal investigations showed Domingos claimed more reimbursable time through the program than any other principal in the state.
In May, Domingos was reassigned to a teaching position and Warren said Domingos fully accepted responsibility for his role.
Mark Davalos, the incoming superintendent of the district, was involved in the selection and interview process. He will begin his role on July 1.
