LANGLEY — According to people who keep track of such things, one of the hardest tasks a person can do is speak before an audience.

Harder still, when that audience is poised to pass judgement that will change your life forever.

Such was the case last Thursday as the final two candidates for the job of South Whidbey High School principal made their case before 40 parents. Robert Prosch has been principal of Nooksack Valley High School in Everson, located east of Lynden, for five years. Dr. Kerry Mance has been assistant principal at Squalicum High School in Bellingham for the last three years.

The screening process began July 9 with 13 applicants, most from Washington but none from South Whidbey.

The screening committee of parents and teachers then narrowed the field to five candidates; three made the cut but one dropped out after deciding she wouldn’t be a good fit for the job.

Parents were given response sheets that will be evaluated by the committee. The review committee will make a final recommendation to district superintendent Fred McCarthy.

The job opened when former principal Mike Johnson accepted a newly-created school district position involving curriculum instruction, special education, human resources and technology. Johnson served as principal for eight years.

Each candidate offered a brief review of their respective backgrounds and tried to answer the question of what South Whidbey High School would look like in five years.

Prosch and Mance both placed a strong emphasis on preparing students for college and the venue fit perfectly. The high school’s Room 107 was designed to mimic a university lecture hall with tiered seating for 80 students, swiveled writing desks and state-of-the-art electronics.

Looking around, Prosch began by joking briefly about the lack of such a room at his smaller school.

Prosch studied performing arts in college, even sang opera for a few years, but switched to teaching to fit his growing family of six children. He taught choir, drama and humanities prior to entering the principal intern program at Brigham Young University.

No stranger to Whidbey Island, Prosch began his administrative duties at Oak Harbor High School as assistant principal for three years.

The Nooksack Valley High School serves 615 students in grades 7 through 12.

Prosch spoke at length on what he termed the “Nooksack strategy,” a scheme designed to prepare students for college, career and citizenship by the time they graduate.

“I believe kids must take an active role and be involved in their own education,” he said. “It is my and the staff’s job to keep expectations at a high level. And I depend on parents heavily in that regard.”

He also noted that he established the first parent-teacher-student association at Nooksack.

Discussing the next five years, Prosch said he wanted to educate the “whole child” while having students, staff, parents, administrators “own” their roles and take responsibility on the journey toward graduation.

“I know this community has long supported their schools and, besides, it certainly smells better here,” he said, referring to Nooksack’s location in the middle of cattle country.

Mance has a long resumé in education, including 17 years teaching and eight in administration. She has worked as an adjunct professor at Western Washington University, where she was heavily involved with instructional curriculum for teachers.

She grew up in Sumner and, though she spent years teaching at large high schools in California, considers herself a small-town girl. Mance is a single parent with a son at Washington State University, a daughter teaching in grade school and another working in Bellingham.

“I’m a firm believer in innovative structures that engage students,” she said.

“That includes technology-equipped schools, staff-embedded professional development, a clear shared focus and data-driven decision-making,” Mance added.

Squalicum High School has 1,300 students. “At Squalicum, I’ve attempted to close the gap between aspirations and the realities of high school preparation.”

Mance said the chance to make decisions was a key factor in applying for the job. “I bring a depth and breadth of experience to curriculum and professional development, including three years on the strategic planning team at Squalicum.”

She said she would help students acquire the eligibility needed to get, and stay, in college. Mance also placed a strong emphasis on providing laptop computers to each student.

“When there is a snow day and the school has to close, students can use their laptops to work at home and still communicate with their teachers,” she said.

The final decision will be announced by the superintendent sometime this week.

At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24 a similar parents’ meeting will be held at the Intermediate School to consider candidates to replace Eric Nerison as principal of the Primary and Intermediate schools.