Tuesday, August 10, 2021-Stevenson, WA-Stevenson-Carson School District proudly introduces Dr. Benton Dorman as the new principal of Wind River Middle School starting with the 2021-2022 school year.
The district reopened Wind River Middle School full-time beginning in November 2020 with administrative duties shared between the principal and assistant principal at Stevenson High School. When the assistant principal departed at the end of the 2020-2021 school year, the district needed a full-time administrator at the middle school. “We started the search for a new principal and were extremely lucky that Dr. Dorman was interested,” said Superintendent Ingrid Colvard. “Not only does he have extensive administrative public education experience, but he’s been serving the district as our Director of Special Education for the past eight years, so he is already well-versed in both the district and our community.”
Dorman applied for the principalship as he wanted to increase his role in the Stevenson-Carson community. “I have been looking for opportunities to expand my role in our local community, so this principalship was the perfect fit,” he said. “I was so honored when Ingrid encouraged me to apply for the position; I am ready for the new challenge this position presents!”
For Dorman, the fact that Wind River Middle School just returned to service in the past year presents a lot of excitement. “I’m thrilled about recreating the WRMS brand and redeveloping the school’s culture,” he said. “I’m hoping to build a strong, cohesive WRMS staff with a renewed sense of identity now that we are fully separate from Stevenson High School.”
Dorman’s other wide-ranging work experience includes providing special education services to districts all over Skamania County and beyond including Trout Lake, Mill A, Mt. Pleasant, Klickitat, and Glenwood. Additionally, he served as the Superintendent/Principal at Mill A school in 2015 and the Interim Superintendent/Principal at Mt. Pleasant School last year. Dorman is also a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and has performed duties as a school psychologist since 1997.
Dorman’s own educational background includes earning a Doctorate in Education from the University of La Verne; a Master’s of Science in Counseling and School Psychology from San Diego State University, and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from the University of California Davis. Additionally, Dorman earned his program manager, principal, and superintendent administrative credentials.
Dorman currently lives west of Stevenson with his husband, eight chickens, three barn cats, and two dogs on a six-acre property since 2013 where, when not at work, he enjoys working out, cooking, canning, and spending money on their recreational vehicle. “A lot of people don’t know that I have a camouflaged 1991 Chevy Suburban 4×4 that I use to get me to work on snowy days,” he laughed.