Eagle County School District announces finalists for superintendent role
Candidate forum slated for Feb. 9 at Battle Mountain High School
Eagle County School District/Courtesy photo
Eagle County School District’s Board of Education has selected two finalists to interview for the role as the district’s next superintendent.
Current Superintendent Phil Qualman announced during the summer of 2025 that he would be stepping down at the end of the 2025-26 school year.
The school board enlisted the help of McPherson and Jacobson, a national search firm, to assist in the selection process. They conducted a community survey to solicit feedback from anyone interested in providing what they would like to see in the district’s next superintendent and then posted the position. Once the application window closed, they provided the board with a list of candidates and qualifications for review based on community input to determine the short list to fill the role.
There were a total of 26 applicants reviewed by the board of education with states from across the nation represented. The two finalists, in alphabetical order by last name, are:
1. Nicole Regan, Ed.D.
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2. KC Somers, Ed.D.
Dr. Nicole Regan is currently the superintendent of schools in Gering, Nebraska, a role she has held since 2021. Prior to that she was the director of recruitment and supervisor of special programs personnel at Lincoln Public Schools in Lincoln, Nebraska from 2014-21. Her skills include advancing academic performance and equity through strategic innovation, fostering collaboration, and providing leadership to implement the district’s strategic plan. Dr. Regan has experience in leading district-wide initiatives, community outreach around campaign initiatives, and budget management.
Dr. KC Somers is currently the superintendent of Peoria Unified School District, a district of 35,000 students located in Glendale, Arizona. Prior to that he was the superintendent at Lewis-Palmer School District 38 in Monument, Colorado from 2019-24. His skills include organizational leadership and improving academic proficiency through aligned instruction. Dr. Somers has experience in building inclusive communities through partnership-building and cross-agency collaboration, as well as navigating staffing shortages and cost-of-living constraints.
“We had an impressive applicant pool to select from, including both internal and external candidates. The board is grateful to all who took the time and interest to apply and share their experience and passion,” said Board President Lelia Conlin. “We are excited to move forward with community involvement and explore this important position with these two outstanding finalists.”
Eagle County School District will be hosting a Superintendent Candidate Forum on Monday, Feb. 9 at Battle Mountain High School. The event will open to the public at 5:30 p.m. with an informal meet and greet with each of the two candidates, giving the community a chance to ask questions and get to know both finalists a little better.
At 6:30 p.m., the board of education will participate in a Q&A session with the finalists moderated by McPherson and Jacobson. This is also open to the public. Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be provided for anyone interested. The events will also be livestreamed on High Five Access Media’s website for anyone that is unable to attend in person.
Following the event, the board will accept feedback from the community via a QR code shared the night of the forum. They will then interview the two candidates the following day and deliberate while reviewing public opinion. An announcement is expected shortly after, with an expected start date of around July 1.
