Meet Puyallup School District's New Superintendent: Kevin Alfano

Message From the Board President

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I’m pleased to share that we have selected Kevin Alfano as our next superintendent.

Mr. Alfano brings nearly three decades of experience in public education and a long track record of collaborative leadership. Throughout his career, he has focused on building strong relationships with students, staff, families, and community partners while supporting schools in delivering high-quality learning opportunities for every student.  

As a local educational leader, Mr. Alfano understands the communities we serve and the important role our schools play across Pierce County. In our conversations with him, the Board was especially encouraged by his commitment to transparency, thoughtful decision-making, and working alongside staff and community to move our district forward.  

Puyallup School District is entering an important chapter. We face real challenges, including significant budget reductions and critical conversations about the future of our facilities. The Board believes Mr. Alfano’s steady leadership, collaborative approach, and focus on students will help guide our district through these challenges and position us for the future.  

The Board stands united in this decision and looks forward to welcoming Mr. Alfano to our district. Individual board members will have the opportunity to share additional reflections during our March 16 board meeting.  

Our focus now turns to supporting a smooth transition and continuing the work ahead together on behalf of the students and families we serve.

Meet the Superintendent

Kevin Alfano has served for nearly 30 years in public education and currently serves as the Superintendent of Fife Public Schools, a role he has held since 2014.

Known for collaborative leadership and a strong commitment to equity, Mr. Alfano has led districtwide efforts to improve graduation rates, strengthen professional learning systems, and maintain long-term financial stability through the passing of successful levy and bond measures. 

Prior to becoming superintendent, Mr. Alfano served Fife Public Schools as Assistant Superintendent, principal, assistant principal, and dean of students. Throughout his career, he has focused on building strong, lasting relationships with students, staff, families, and community partners while supporting principals and district leadership teams with sustainable high-quality learning opportunities.

His work emphasizes transparency, two-way communication, and development systems that expand opportunities for all students. 

Mr. Alfano has been actively involved in regional and state leadership, including working with the Washington Association of School Administrators, where he has served in multiple leadership roles. He also participates in national superintendent leadership programs, focusing on continuous improvement and effective school governance practices. 

Mr. Alfano holds a Superintendent Certificate from Seattle University and earned his Master of Education from Central Washington University. He is currently completing his Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Pacific Lutheran University.

The Superintendent Search Process

The Board of Directors conducted a comprehensive search in partnership with Northwest Leadership Associates to identify the district’s next superintendent. Early in the process, a Leadership Profile Survey invited staff, families, and community members to share the qualities and skills they wanted in the next superintendent. This input helped the Board and search firm shape the candidate pool and establish evaluation criteria. 

The search process included candidate screenings, finalist interviews, and meet-and-greet events with staff, students, administrators, union members, and the broader community, both in-person and via livestream. Participants were invited to provide input through a Candidate Feedback Survey during these events. 

After reviewing all candidate materials and community feedback, the Board engaged in extensive deliberations to ensure a thoughtful and thorough decision. This process resulted in the selection of Mr. Alfano as the district’s next superintendent.

Community Feedback

Community input was an important part of evaluating the finalist. During the Candidate Feedback Survey, which was open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the day of Mr. Alfano’s in-district visit, staff, students, and community members had the opportunity to share their feedback: 

• 73.6% of respondents said he was well prepared or very well prepared to serve as superintendent 
• 73.1% felt he was aligned or strongly aligned with the district’s priorities and leadership approach 
• 66.3% reported feeling confident or very confident in his ability to effectively lead the district moving forward 

Feedback from these surveys highlights the perspectives of staff, families, and community members and helped inform the Board’s discussions. 

Next Steps

The Board of Directors will next begin contract negotiations with Mr. Alfano. Pending agreement, Kevin Alfano will begin his role as Superintendent of the Puyallup School District on July 1, 2026.  

Community members are encouraged to tune in to the March 16, 2026, School Board meeting, where board members will share individual comments on the selection of Kevin Alfano as Puyallup’s next superintendent.