Rod Merrell

A veteran educator with a diverse resume has been tabbed to lead Enumclaw High School.

Rodrick “Rod” Merrell will take the reins July 1 as principal, moving from the Marysville (Wash.) School District where he is completing a stint as director of secondary education.

Merrell will be replacing Phil Engebretsen, who has served as EHS principal for the past two school years and is set to move into a new role in district administration.

Despite following a path that led to districtwide leadership, Merrell has said he prefers the in-school environment.

“I truly miss working in a building and the opportunity to work alongside other administrators, certificated and classified staff, students and parents in the pursuit of continuous improvement,” he said, quoted in a press release issued by the Enumclaw School District.

While presently serving an administrative role, Merrell progressed through the public school ranks in several Washington districts. He began as a high school English teacher, serving in both the Issaquah and Coupeville school systems. After 10 years of teaching, he moved into his first administrative role as the assistant principal at Mountlake Terrace High School. He then accepted the position of principal at Langley Middle and High School and later became principal at Mount Vernon High School.

Remaining true to the University of Washington, Merrell earned a bachelor of arts in English, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and them doctorate in educational leadership, all from the University of Washington.

Upon earning his doctorate he accepted his current post with the Marysville School District.