Centralia School Board Honors Interim Superintendent Steve Warren With Trip

In his 19 years with the Centralia School District, Steve Warren has done it all. 

The current interim superintendent was hired as the assistant principal at Centralia High School, later became the principal at Centralia Middle School, was promoted to the district office as the director of teaching and learning and also assumed the role of assistant superintendent before becoming a science teacher at Centralia High School. 

His role as interim superintendent will come to an end June 30 and Warren will go back to teaching science in the high school.

After agreeing to the position during a tumultuous time within the Centralia School District, Warren was honored at a surprise ending to the annual retirement ceremony held at Centralia Middle School on Thursday. 

School Board President Kim Ashmore said Warren stepped into the interim role for the district when “a lot of people thought the ship was sinking.”

After the resignation of former superintendent Steve Bodnar at the end of the 2013-14 school year, Warren was approved by the school board for the interim position 5-0, beating out three candidates from outside the area. 

At the time, the school district was dealing with allegations of mismanagement in the Medicaid Administrative Match program, an accusation that would later prove true. Warren spent months thoroughly investigating the situation, and his report later indicated a lack of oversight in the program, bringing some closure for the school district. 

“When it comes to confronting controversial issues, I know I need to be the face of the district,” Warren said in an earlier interview with The Chronicle. “I see my role as a bridge between the district and the taxpayer.”

Now with his duties as interim superintendent completed, Warren is looking forward to stepping down from his role, a position he only agreed to on a one-year basis. 

School board members present at the retirement ceremony spoke highly of Warren. Bob Fuller said Warren always had the heart and the commitment to get the job done, while Chris Thomas said Warren was always committed to the students.

“Steve is a true example of someone willing to do anything for the betterment of the kids and the Centralia School District,” Thomas said. “I want to thank him for stepping up and helping … navigate the district through the past year.”

Neal Kirby, another school board member, said that although he has “crossed swords” with Warren over the years, they have also worked together. He thanked Warren for his commitment.

Ashmore presented the outgoing superintendent with a surprise trip to Arizona for Warren and his family. After working several months in secret to raise funds for the trip through school district employees and school board members, Ashmore was able to rent a house for Warren to stay at for a week. Along with that, the board members also presented him with cash, a rental car and gift certificates for Alaska Airlines.

“I don’t think you are going to need to take any money with you,” Ashmore said with a laugh. “Mr. Warren, I know I speak on behalf of the rest of the board and all the staff when I say we truly appreciate the job that you did the past year.”

Warren was met with a standing ovation as he thanked those in attendance for the gift. He said he had spent many years traveling the state, but knew Centralia would be home shortly after moving to the area.

“I just want you to know that it wasn’t six weeks in Centralia before we knew that this is where we would be staying for an awfully long, long time,” Warren said to the crowd. “Centralia is both a wonderful place in our hearts along with you and the Centralia School District.” 

Mark Davalos, the current superintendent of the St. Helens School District in Oregon, is scheduled to take over the superintendent position in Centralia this summer.