Kennewick picks new school superintendent. Here’s who will lead the 19,000-student district
The Kennewick School Board has selected an Idaho Superintendent of the Year award winner to lead the Tri-Cities’ largest school district.
The board made the call Thursday night to offer Lance Hansen the position shortly after he interviewed as a finalist. Board members, community stakeholders and school employees interviewed the district’s three finalists this week.
Board President Gabe Galbraith told the Tri-City Herald that Hansen’s classroom knowledge and experience with professional learning communities made him stand out. He was also selfless when it came to recognizing the hard work of his teachers and administrators.
“We felt like he really brought a strong background of leading a district. We feel like he could really create not only a positive culture in the district, but really set strong expectations for us to move the needle on student outcomes. At the end of the day, it’s about the students and we want to make sure we’re preparing them for life outside of school, and we felt he had a really good vision on that,” Galbraith said.
Hansen has served as superintendent of Lewiston Independent School District since 2021.
It serves about 4,500 students and employs 650, with an annual operating budget of $70 million. His salary during the 2022-23 school year was listed at $155,000.
Kennewick School District is the Tri-Cities’ largest public school district, serving 19,000 full- and part-time students enrolled in 33 schools.
It’s also the city’s largest employer, with 3,500 staff and teachers under a $320 million budget.
Hansen’s wage will be bargained in contract negotiations. Pierce’s base salary during the 2023-24 school year was $188,300.
Hansen begins on July 1 pending contract negotiations. He’ll replace Superintendent Traci Pierce, who’s led the district the past five years and retires June 30.
He’s served Lewiston in several roles over the last 18 years, including as assistant superintendent, principal and as an assistant principal in secondary schools.
Hansen’s early career includes working as a math teacher at Moscow High School, and as a Spanish and math teacher at Emmett High School.
He holds a bachelor’s in Spanish and math, as well as a master’s in educational leadership, both from University of Idaho. He has five grown children and five grandchildren.
“I want to thank the students, staff and community members who took time to meet with me during the interview process,” Hansen said in a provided statement. “After spending time in the district, it’s clear this is the right fit. My wife and I are excited to be part of this wonderful community.”
Hansen was recently named the “2025 Idaho Superintendent of the Year” by the Idaho Association of School Administrators, which he highlighted during his initial interview.
Galbraith says you can see the results of Hansen’s leadership: Some of his schools are being recognized on the state level as “model schools.”
He’s also board president of the of the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance and is involved in the Rotary Club of Lewiston, Twin County United Way and the Lewis Clark Valley Chamber of Commerce, according to a district announcement.
“We spent hours researching and referencing and turning over just about every leaf we could on all the candidates to make sure we made the right decision,” Galbraith said.
