NEWS--

For immediate release

May 29, 2008

Debra Fincham to retire

Assistant Superintendent closing out 22 years with district

After 22 years of outstanding service to children, parents, staff and community, Dr. Debra Fincham will retire as the Assistant Superintendent for Bloomington Public Schools.

Since her arrival in 1986 as the Ridgeview Elementary School principal, Dr. Fincham has been an exemplary leader, said Superintendent Les Fujitake.

"She's been a wonderful asset to me, her colleagues and most importantly to our school leaders," Fujitake added. "She will be missed."

After four years at Ridgeview, Dr. Fincham became principal of Oak Grove Intermediate School, a school of 1,700 fifth and sixth grade students. She led the school to its designation as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 1993. In 2000, she became the District's Middle Level Director and oversaw the community-wide collaborative process of converting from an intermediate/junior high model to the district's current three middle schools configuration. She opened Valley View Middle School as its principal in 2001. Dr. Fincham was named Assistant Superintendent in 2006.

A native of Albert Lea, Dr. Fincham has been a teacher in her hometown and with the Faribault School District. She holds degrees from Waldorf College in Iowa, Mankato State, and the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Fincham says she is looking forward to spending time with her family, traveling and volunteering to help others. She and her husband, Doug, have two sons - Ryan, 20, a student at Denver University, and Mark, 24, an executive in Englewood, CO.

"I've really enjoyed working here and the relationships I've developed with families and staff," said Fincham. "It's been very rewarding."