Walla Walla Public Schools Names Finalists For Superintendent Position; Public Forums Thursday, March 27 (Photo)
-03/25/25
WALLA WALLA, WA – The Walla Walla Public Schools Board of Directors has named three finalists for the district’s superintendent position. The finalists are: Dr. Ben Gauyan, Patricia Rodriguez and Dr. Mark Wenzel.
Dr. Ben Gauyan
Dr. Ben Gauyan is the Assistant Superintendent of the Stanwood-Camano School District. With over 30 years in public education, he has worked as a para-professional, teacher, and school administrator. As a district leader, he has served in three districts ranging from 5,000 to 25,000 students.
A lifelong educator, Dr. Gauyan is dedicated to helping students achieve their educational goals. His core values—student-centeredness, collaboration, trust, relationships, and data-informed decision-making—have significantly improved student outcomes. He is excited to continue this work in Walla Walla.
Before his current role, Dr. Gauyan was an Executive Director in Highline Public Schools, overseeing middle and high schools. Prior to that, he was the Middle School Director for Tacoma Public Schools where he supervised all middle schools as well as various departments within the district.
Dr. Gauyan holds a bachelor's degree from San Diego State University, a master's from Seattle Pacific University, and a doctorate from the University of Washington. He and his wife, Jennifer, have been married for 26 years and have two children. In his free time, he enjoys physical activities and playing the guitar. He and his wife are excited to relocate and make Walla Walla their new home.
Patricia Rodriguez
Patricia Rodriguez brings 29 years of educational experience, including over 15 years focused on school transformation and instructional improvement. Mrs. Rodriguez has served in Executive Leadership roles including Deputy Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, and Executive Director of Leadership. In these roles, Mrs. Rodriguez has driven academic success and built robust support systems for teachers and staff.
As Deputy Superintendent of Austin Independent School District, a large urban school system serving approximately 73,000 students, she led six key divisions including Elementary Academics, Secondary Academics, Special Education, School Leadership, and Student Support Services. Prior to this role, she served as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Aldine Independent School District and provided leadership, coaching and support to primary and elementary schools. She enhanced literacy outcomes by implementing strategic literacy initiatives that propelled literacy scores from 48% to 84% within two years, showcasing her ability to deliver rapid, measurable results.
A native Houstonian, Mrs. Rodriguez deeply values collaborative relationships and thrives in environments where meaningful engagement with staff, students, and families is paramount. Her leadership is rooted in a commitment to fostering inclusive and supportive educational communities.
Dr. Mark Wenzel
Dr. Mark Wenzel is an experienced international education leader with a passion for holistic student learning, leadership development, and data-informed decision-making. He has served as a superintendent for 16 years in Washington State and Asia, leading diverse school communities and driving improvements in teaching, learning, school culture, and facilities.
Currently, Mark is the Education Director for Cognita Schools Asia, overseeing 12 schools across the region. He holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Washington, as well as master’s degrees from UW and the London School of Economics. His expertise spans P-12 education systems, curriculum design, and professional learning that empowers educators to drive student growth. He has led efforts to close learning gaps and help schools reach record-high performance.
Beyond his professional role, Mark enjoys singing and musical theater. He previously coached youth basketball and values arts and athletics in character development. He speaks Japanese and Korean and is learning Spanish.
Mark and his wife, Julie, a mental health counselor, live with their three children – Ruby (15), Eli (13), and Finn (10). The family enjoys hiking, reading, and traveling. Dr. Wenzel is committed to working with school communities to create the conditions where every student can thrive.
Thursday, March 27 Interviews and Public Forums (Community & Staff Invited)
The superintendent finalists will return to Walla Walla on Thursday, March 27, for a comprehensive day-long interview process. Parents, staff, students and community members are invited to participate in public forums at the WWPS District Office to meet the candidates, ask questions and share input. A live stream will also be available for those unable to attend in-person. There will be Spanish translation services in-person at all three public forums. Attendees are encouraged to complete feedback forms, available in English and Spanish, for all three candidates. School Board members will review all the input prior to making a final decision.
Public Forum Schedule (Community & Staff Invited)
- Finalist: 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. - WWPS District Office – 364 S. Park St.
- Finalist: 4:50 – 5:50 p.m. - WWPS District Office – 364 S. Park St.
- Finalist: 5:55 – 6:55 p.m. - WWPS District Office – 364 S. Park St.
NOTE: Live Stream (for those who can’t attend in-person)
