Lakeland district chooses new superintendent

Mary Ann Ranells is no stranger to the administrators in the Lakeland School District.

As Deputy Superintendent for Public Instruction under former State Superintendent Marilyn Howard, Ranells did quite a bit of work with the district.

“One of the things I admire so much about the Lakeland School District is they’re very results-oriented and they have a great team of people who collaborate and work together for the kids,” Ranells said.

Now, she’s joining the team.

Lakeland’s Board of Trustees on Monday picked Ranells to replace retiring superintendent Chuck Kinsey.

“The board was tremendously impressed with the background, the skills that Mary Ann brings to the position, they types of experiences she’s had working with the state Department of Education,” Kinsey said.

Trustees also liked that Ranells had recent experience in the classroom and as a principal, Kinsey said.

The 56-year-old Osburn resident said she’s “thrilled and honored.”

She’s worked 35 years in public education, the past two years as principal of Silver Hills Elementary School in the Wallace School District where her husband, Robert Ranells, is superintendent.

“What I have had the good fortune to do here at Silver Hills has been a dream come true,” she said. “Leaving is going to be real difficult.”

Her husband was previously superintendent in Grand Coulee, and she taught Spanish and oversaw several programs for the district.

She describes her management philosophy as “love and logic.”

“Everything we do in a school district, whether it’s transportation or child nutrition, you look at all of the spokes in the wheel,” she said. “They all go to the hub, which is the kids.”