Former State Department of Education employee Greg Alexander was named superintendent for the Garden Valley School District.

Trustees made the decision Monday evening after interviewing four candidates on Saturday. The other three finalists were Jeff Blaser, the assistant principal at Rocky Mountain High School in the West Ada School District; David Carson, principal at Parma High School; and Pat Goff, the technology director for the Garden Valley and Horseshoe Bend school districts.

“I plan to provide more opportunities for kids,” Alexander said. “We won’t change unless we change as a team.”

State superintendent Sherri Ybarra terminated Alexander just four days ago, eliminating his position as director of school improvement and support. Former superintendent Tom Luna hired Alexander in January 2012. Alexander’s release from the education department was part of Ybarra’s restructing efforts. Her staff said his position will not be filled.

Garden Valley made news last week for installing guns and gun safes in its school. Teachers have been trained to use the weapons in response to active shooters.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work with these great people,” said Alexander, a lifelong Idahoan whose family recreates in the Garden Valley and Lowman areas.

Alexander was an elementary principal in the Caldwell School District before joining the State Department. He was hired in Caldwell by Randy Schrader, a former principal and Caldwell assistant superintendent who then spent three years as Garden Valley’s superintendent. (Schrader now works as a data analyst and education policy expert for Idaho Education News.)

Marc Gee worked as Garden Valley superintendent in 2014-15 before taking the top job for the Preston School District.

“Randy was one of the first calls I made when I was hired and I told him this won’t be the last time I call,” Alexander said. “He was very successful here in Garden Valley and I plan to call on him regularly for help and guidance. My relationship with Randy was helpful in me being hired.”

Alexander is a graduate of Boise High School and Boise State University. Schrader and Alexander both played football for BSU and are longtime friends and co-workers.

Alexander and his wife, Lara, have three children. Their youngest, Emily, will be a senior next year at Centennial High.

“We need to figure out Emily’s senior year, but we plan to move to Garden Valley within the year,” Alexander said. His start date is July 1.