thumbnail image
broken image
broken image
broken image

Dr. Lance Gibbon

  • Home
  • About
  • Resources
  • Recommended Reads
  • Resources
  • Nonprofits
  • News
  • The Blog
  • …  
    • Home
    • About
    • Resources
    • Recommended Reads
    • Resources
    • Nonprofits
    • News
    • The Blog
    broken image
    broken image
    broken image

    Dr. Lance Gibbon

    • Home
    • About
    • Resources
    • Recommended Reads
    • Resources
    • Nonprofits
    • News
    • The Blog
    • …  
      • Home
      • About
      • Resources
      • Recommended Reads
      • Resources
      • Nonprofits
      • News
      • The Blog
      broken image
      •  

        Dr. LANCE GIBBON

        Dynamic, compassionate & skilled leader in education 

      • About Dr. LANCE GIBBON

        broken image

        Dr. Lance Gibbon is a dynamic leader in education, serving a diverse range of students, staff, and families for three decades in the Puget Sound area. Dr. Gibbon’s efforts have contributed to improved student achievement, expanded opportunities, and state and national awards. A passionate volunteer and community supporter, Dr. Gibbon was twice recognized as Community Leader of the Year.

         

        After earning a B.A. in Music Education, Dr. Gibbon obtained a Master’s in Educational Leadership and a Doctorate in Education from Seattle Pacific University. During his distinguished career, he has served as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, and teacher.

        Cultivating connections and enhancing team building through creative strategies and community partnerships, Dr. Gibbon exemplifies servant leadership. While managing million-dollar budgets, he fosters positive, inclusive learning environments for students, educators, and staff members alike.

        Dr. Gibbon supports many organizations, including Lions Club, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. He has been honored with awards from Empower Youth Network, the Washington School Public Relations Association, Best of Whidbey, and Washington Green Schools.

        A long-time professional musician, music producer, and arts supporter, Dr. Gibbon has been involved with JazzClubsNW and plays keyboards at his church. He and his wife Michelle enjoy spending time with family, camping in their retro trailer, and attending live music events.

        _________________________________

        QUOTES ABOUT DR. GIBBON

        "Dr. Gibbon has provided impeccable servant-leadership in our district. In less than two years, his contributions include a five-year strategic plan, award-winning media communications, passing two levies—including a $19M capital levy—a transportation co-op, improved student attendance and academic achievement, new curriculum adoptions, vital teacher training, and stronger parent and community engagement, all while strengthening culture and morale."

        - Edie Reclusado, School Board Chair, Hood Canal School Distirct

        "For nearly the last decade, I have personally witnessed Dr. Gibbon lead two districts through successes and challenges with a leadership style centered on student learning, creating strong connections with students, families, employee groups and the community, and integrity with a strong moral compass."

        - Conor Laffey, Chief Communications Officer, Snoqualmie Valley School District

        "Dr. Gibbon is one of the most forward thinking and effective leaders I have had the pleasure of working with. He holds an exceptionally high bar in supporting a welcoming and diverse culture, always diligent to help people navigate their way through multiple conflicting priorities in education."

        - Gus Apostol, Principal Group Program Manager, Microsoft

        "Lance is incredibly intelligent and relational with broad understanding of all aspects of a school district. He consistently made time to be out interacting with staff and students. He was very visible and his efforts made him a very relatable leader. He is a great listener and very genuine."

        - Ryan Stokes, Assistant Superintendent/CFO, Snoqualmie Valley School District

      • Recommended Reads

        There are lots of great reading lists with education and leadership books. Rather than replicate those, Dr. Lance Gibbon shares some terrific books not specifically related to education that have really helped him and his team during the past few years. He's provided a brief comment about each to hopefully encourage you to check them out!

      • broken image

        Deep Kindness

        By Huston Kraft

        At the first conference I attended as pandemic restrictions eased, Huston Kraft shared an incredibly moving and challenging message about kindness. The top topic was timely, relevant, and powerful. We like to talk about kindness, but it’s much harder and less common than we want to admit. As we continue to struggle with civility and culture in our schools and society, Kraft’s book and kindness are just what we need right now to begin to heal some of the relational and cultural damage that’s been done.

        broken image

        Amaze Every Customer Every Time

        By Shep Hyken

        Customer service is not something we often discuss in public education, but it is both applicable and transfomative. I read this book with my district office and school front office staff and it transformed the way we served our staff, families, and one another. Hyken uses the Ace Hardware story as the framework for 52 practical tools to change the way we solve problems and care for our customers. The short chapters make it easy to incorporate into weekly or monthly meetings.

        broken image

        The Speed of Trust

        By Stephen M.R. Covey

        In the past few years, trust has eroded in our culture and school and we need practical tools to begin to rebuild. This book (and the accompanying card set) is invaluable in equipping leaders with strategies to understand the trust challenges they face and to get things back on track. I attended a workshop with Covey and was impressed with how easy his concepts and tools were to understand and apply.

        broken image

        Necessary Endings

        By Dr. Henry Cloud

        Sometimes it’s hard to recognize or accept that good things can really be barriers to what’s possible and what we need to do in our work or lives. It’s even harder to let them go. This book was both reassuring and challenging to me as I faced some unexpected challenges and changes in my life recently. Dr. Cloud provides practical advice to identify and understand what might be ending (or need to end) in order to make way for something far better.

        broken image

        The Power of Moments

        By Chip Heath and Dan Heath

        It’s easy to underestimate the long-lasting impacts (good and bad) of certain moments: your first day on the job, the first day at school, a memorable lesson or class project, celebrating accomplishments, and more. Even mundane moments can be made memorable with a little intentionality. I used this book as a focus for a leadership team retreat I facilitated. To give the participants firsthand experience with the strategies, we incorporated the concepts throughout the two-day event. Our leaders in every department and school were able to identify creative ways to apply the ideas and transform the experiences for their teams and customers.

        broken image

        The Culture Code

        By Daniel Coyle

        In the middle of the pandemic with an exhausted team, this book challenged me and my superintendent’s cabinet to re-examine the way we were operating. It provided us with some great ideas drawn from successful organizations and current research to build a sense of team, spark collaboration, and make positive changes. Coyle provides practical advice and strategies (always easier said than done) that can help you and your team get rid of any toxicity and do great work together.

      • Nonprofits

        Nonprofits play vital roles in meeting needs in local communities and beyond. Here are a few of the many organizations serving children, youth, and families that Dr. Lance Gibbon is proud to support. Dr. Gibbon shares a bit about each program below and encourages generous support to help them continue to serve and address community challenges.

      • broken image

        HoodStock Music & Arts Festival

        Here in Hood Canal, I’m a huge supporter of Hoodstock. Their generosity has made a tremendous impact on our community, donating a significant portion of their proceeds to support music education at Hood Canal School. Thanks to their efforts, we now offer free guitar classes and a growing choir program. Beyond that, they also invest in The Salmon Center, helping to provide invaluable outdoor education opportunities for our students. Their commitment to enriching both the arts and environmental learning truly makes a difference!
        DONATE
        broken image

        Hood Canal Education Foundation

        The Hood Canal Education Foundation (HCEF) is an incredible partner, stepping in where traditional funding falls short to support Hood Canal students. Thanks to HCEF, they've funded field trips, classroom tools, and even major projects like the new track and field. Their commitment makes a real difference, and I’m grateful for their impact. If you want to support kids, HCEF is a great place to start!
        DONATE
        broken image

        Lions, Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs

        I’ve been active in the Lions, Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs in my local community and I urge you to join a club in your community. They make tangible positive impacts on the lives of kids and families in our local community as well as internationally providing weekend food bags for families in need, scholarships for students to continue their education after high school, grants to other nonprofits, conducting volunteer service projects and awareness campaigns, and more.

        DONATE
        broken image

        Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group

        The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG) does incredible work connecting our students and teachers to the land, water, and salmon that define our region. Their hands-on education programs, habitat restoration efforts, and research projects provide real-world learning experiences that inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. We’re grateful for their commitment to both our kids and the health of Hood Canal!
        DONATE
        broken image

        JazzClubNW

        As a musician, I find the work of JazzClubsNW very exciting. They support live jazz performances and educational opportunities through communities here in the Pacific Northwest. As much as possible, they try to put students and professionals together onstage. They also support communities interested in starting their own local jazz clubs and events. I enjoy attending their events and have even pitched in to run the live stream.
        DONATE

        In addition to the organizations listed above, Dr. Lance Gibbon encourages supporting your local educational foundation and parent-teacher organization. These organizations support innovation in our schools by reinvesting community dollars into the classroom through grants, providing volunteers, and offering scholarships for students in need.

      • Dr. Lance Gibbon in the News

        Clippings from news stories about the work of Dr. Gibbon over the past decade.

        UPGRADES

        Shaping Upgrades at Hood Canal Schools | Shelton-Mason County Journal

        COMMUNICATION

        Hood Canal School District Wins Statewide Awards for Communication Excellence | Cision

        ACADEMICS

        Hood Canal Middle School Students Excel in State Tests, Gaining Skills for High School | Newswires

        NAMES

        Hood Canal Leader Wants to Know Your Name | Shelton-Mason County Journal

        RADIO

        Fall 2023 Update With Superintendent Gibbon | KMAS Radio

        PASS

        Hood Canal Levies Pass | Shelton-Mason County Journal

        BONDS

        Should Washington Make It Easier to Pass School Construction Bonds | Seattle Times

        ARTS

        Dr Lance Gibbon Urges Districts to Sustain Arts Funding Despite Budget Shortfalls | EIN Presswire

        HOOD CANAL

        Dr. Lance Gibbon Selected as New Superintendent of the Hood Canal School District | PRWeb

        Q&A

        Q&A: Snoqualmie Valley School District Superintendent Lance Gibbon | A&E | 425magazine.com

        JAZZ

        Oak Harbor Schools superintendent teaches improv jazz | Whidbey News-Times 

        READER REPLY

        Lance Gibbon's Reader Reply | School Administrator Magazine - June 2023

        HISTORICAL

        Dr. Lance Gibbon Joins Maple Valley Historical Society Board of Directors | Businesswire

        SUSTAINABLE

        Washington Schools Recognized for Sustainability and Environmental Education | by OPSI

        WEBSITE

        Dr. Lance Gibbon Launches New Website Offering Education Resources | Cision

        GREEN

        Oak Harbor school district recognized for its green efforts | Whidbey News-Times

        CONGRESS

        Bipartisan Bill Will Help Students in Schools That Serve Military Bases and Indian Tribes | Press Release

        Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this Page Share by Email

        MUSIC

        Dr. Lance Gibbon Announces Re-release of Christmas Album | Newswires

        IN-PERSON

        Oak Harbor is biggest western Washington school district to resume in-person learning | king5.com

        OH-MAZING

        Editorial: Clearly, Oak Harbor schools are doing an ‘OHmazing’ job | Whidbey News-Times 

        FUTURE

        Oak Harbor Superintendent Looks Forward to Future | Whidbey Weekly

        BOND

        Bond on Ballot for Hood Canal | Shelton-Mason County Journal

        OPINION

        Preserving the love of learning with lasting memories | Sound Off by Lance Gibbon | Whidbey News-Times 

        FISCAL

        Editorial: Voters can be confident district will be fiscally responsible with levy dollars | Whidbey News-Times 

        GRAD RATE

        Oak Harbor scores all-time best 91.4 percent graduation rate | Whidbey News-Times

        REVIEW

        Superintendent gets glowing review, 3.3 percent raise | Whidbey News-Times 

        BEST OF

        Annual awards banquet draws crowd of the ‘Best’ | Whidbey News-Times

        IMPROVE

        Congratulations to district for improving students’ education | In Our Opinion | Whidbey News-Times

        GRADE

        Oak Harbor School District superintendent earns a passing grade | Whidbey News-Times

        BUSINESS

        Oak Harbor schools open doors to local business leaders | Whidbey News-Times 

        CHALLENGE

        Gibbon, others take chilly challenge | Whidbey News-Times 

        NEW

        Gibbon is Oak Harbor's new schools chief | Whidbey News-Times 

        GRANT

        Oak Harbor schools receive $1.8 million grant | Whidbey News-Times 

        READING

        $2.16 million grant funds Oak Harbor reading program | Whidbey News-Times 

        HOMESCHOOL

        Burgeoning ‘HomeConnection’ has a new home | Whidbey News-Times

        LEADER

        Selected as New Leader | Hazard Young Attea & Associates

        ABSTRACT

        LEGO Mindstorms | Harvard University

        PODCAST

        Interview with Jeff Slakey About New Transportation Center | KMAS Radio

        BLOG

        Best of the Blogs | AASA Magazine February 2024

        SCORES

        Test Scores Rise at Hood Canal Schools | Shelton-Mason County Journal

        AWARDS

        Communication Awards for Hood Canal School | Shelton-Mason County Journal

        GALA

        Dr. Lance Gibbon Recaps Participation in Mt. Si Senior Center Gala | Cision

      • The Blog

        Thoughts, musings, and ruminations from Dr. Lance Gibbon

        Strategic Planning Reimagined: How We Used AI to Make the Process More Efficient (and Less Painful)
        March 21, 2025
        Called to Lead: Faith, Purpose, and Transformation in Public Education
        March 19, 2025
        That's a Wrap: My First National Conference on Education
        March 9, 2025
      broken image

      Leadership Consulting, Evaluation, Facilitation

      Let's start a conversation today!

      Contact Dr. Gibbon

      Email

       Educational Leader | Student Champion | Chief Evangelist | Leadership Consultant | Team Builder | Musician | Lifelong Learner

        Cookie Use
        We use cookies to ensure a smooth browsing experience. By continuing we assume you accept the use of cookies.
        Learn More