TMJ News Staff
Sometimes, the first administrative choice is the best, regardless of who sits behind the main leadership dais.
That apparently is the conclusion reached by the Woodland Park RE-2 School District Board of Education. The board last week gave current Interim Superintendent Ginger Slocum the green light to assume the position as the district’s new permanent boss. Her term officially begins on July 1.
This officially ends a search that had been ongoing for months, since the exit of former RE-2 Superintendent Ken Witt.
The board approved Slocum’s appointment during a special meeting on Monday, March 16, following an extensive community-centered search process that concluded on March 12. The multi-stage search process included community member interviews with 42 participants divided into two separate groups, a public forum in which candidates responded to questions facilitated by Grundmeyer Leader Services–the district’s search firm–and formal interviews with the Board of Education in executive session. The process was intentionally designed to ensure community input aimed at helping guide the board’s final decision.
“From the very beginning, our goal was to conduct a search that belonged to this community,” said Board of Education President Keegan Barkely, according to a district press release. “We heard from parents, staff, and community members at every step, and their input was instrumental in shaping our decision. The community asked for a leader who is highly qualified and knows and loves this district deeply, and in Ginger Slocum, that’s exactly who we found,” added Barkely.
The board cited Slocum’s instructional leadership, deep understanding of the district, commitment to collaboration with staff and families, and community feedback as key factors in its decision. She was one of a handful of finalists for the job.
A Leader Rooted in Woodland Park
Slocum brings 29 years of experience as an educator, including 17 years in the classroom and seven years serving in the Woodland Park School District. A long-time resident, she has held several leadership roles within the district, including Principal of Columbine Elementary, Chief Academic Officer, and currently Interim Superintendent. Her deep familiarity with the district’s schools, staff, and community provides immediate continuity and momentum for the district’s ongoing work.
During her time as Interim Superintendent, Slocum developed and launched strategic goals and established committees to advance key district priorities. Slocum holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and a post-master’s degree in educational leadership.
She is recognized for her expertise in academic standards, program alignment, and grant development. Throughout her career, colleagues and families have described her as approachable, collaborative, and deeply committed to building strong partnerships with staff and the community. “I am humbled and honored to serve this community in this role,” said Slocum. “In the seven years I have been part of this district, I have seen firsthand what makes Woodland Park so special. Every decision I make will be grounded in one simple question: What is best for our students? I care deeply about our staff as well. They show up every day for kids, and they deserve a superintendent who shows up for them. I am excited to continue working alongside this incredible community and remain fully committed to the students, staff, and families of WPSD.”
From the get-go, Slocum was the front-runner for the position. Former board chairman Mick Bates, who often disagreed with Barkely on key policy issues, had recommended she be given the position several months ago to avoid extra consultant expenses. Bates cited the work Slocum had done as interim superintendent, especially in trying to mend fences politically with the city of Woodland Park and to better open up the lines of communication. But the board wanted to undergo a fully transparent process, even if it costs a lot more money.
Slocum will continue serving as interim superintendent until she officially assumes the superintendent role on July . According to a district press release, the RE-2 leadership and Board of Education look forward to continuing their work with Slocum to “support students and strengthen opportunities for families across the Woodland Park community.”
Slocum will be forced to hit the ground running, once she assumes the head administrative role. Grappling with efforts to revive the city’s sales tax additional revenue could become a key goal. But based on the rection to this issue by most city council candidates during a recent candidates’ forum, this could emerge as a hefty challenge. The school district lost several million in revenue when this tax got rescinded by the WP Council in 2025.
As interim superintendent, Slocum had tried to establish better relations between the school district and the city.
About the Woodland Park School District.
The Re-2 Woodland Park School District Re-2 serves more than 1,800 students across four schools in grades. The district offers comprehensive academic programs, robust extracurricular activities, and a supportive learning environment in the heart of Colorado’s Pikes Peak region. The Woodland Park RE-2 School District is located at 155 Panther Way, Woodland Park, CO 80863. To learn more visit http://wpsdk12.org
