The successor to the current Kennewick School District superintendent is this year’s Idaho Superintendent of the Year who started his educational career as a Spanish and math teacher. 

The Kennewick School Board voted Feb. 7 to offer the role to Lance Hansen, current superintendent of Lewiston Independent School District #1 in Idaho, according to a release. Pending contract negotiations, Hansen will start with the district on July 1 when current KSD Superintendent Traci Pierce retires. 

Hansen was one of six candidates from Washington state, Idaho and Indiana brought in for interviews with the board and meetings with community and staff in recent weeks. 

“Mr. Hansen has a remarkable background as a teacher, building administrator, district administrator and superintendent. His passion for students was clear from the start,” said board President Gabe Galbraith in a release. “The board looks forward to the positive impact his leadership will have as we continue to grow and strengthen our schools.” 

Hansen is currently in his fourth year as the superintendent in Lewiston. He has been with the district for 18 years, serving as assistant superintendent; principal and assistant principal of Lewiston High School and assistant principal of Sacajawea Middle School. 

Prior to working in Lewiston, Hansen was a math teacher at Moscow High School in the Moscow School District and a Spanish and math teacher at Emmett High School in the Emmett Independent School District. 

He was recently selected as the state’s top superintendent for 2025 by the Idaho Association of School Administrators. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in math from the University of Idaho, as well as a master’s in educational leadership and an educational specialist degree in educational leadership. 

Pierce has led Kennewick schools since January 2020. Her salary was $299,445 in the 2022-23 school year, the most recent year of available salary data from the Washington State Fiscal Information database.