Shuksan Middle School in Bellingham will welcome a new assistant principal for the 2026-27 school year. Principal Craig Baldwin announced this week that Jessica Wallace has been selected for the role, bringing years of instructional leadership experience within the Bellingham School District to the position. Wallace most recently served as a Teacher on Special Assignment, or TOSA, within the district.
In her TOSA role, Wallace helped lead the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Standing Committee. MTSS is a research-based framework used in schools across Washington State to provide tiered interventions for students based on their academic and behavioral needs. Her committee work focused on implementing inclusive classroom practices and supporting data-driven teaming among educators. She also led professional development for staff, specifically around thinking maps, literacy, and early childhood education, suggesting a particular depth in literacy instruction.
Before her TOSA assignment, Wallace spent seven years as a classroom teacher at Birchwood Elementary School in Bellingham. Birchwood serves a diverse student population in the northwest part of the city. Her time there built the classroom-level perspective that often proves essential for school administrators who need to understand the daily realities their teachers face. She began her teaching career in Spokane Public Schools before joining the Bellingham district.
Wallace's academic credentials reflect a strong commitment to professional growth. She earned her principal certificate through the University of Washington Danforth Educational Leadership Program, which is among the most respected school leadership preparation programs in the Pacific Northwest. She holds a master's degree in language and literacy from Western Washington University, located in Bellingham, and a bachelor's degree from Eastern Washington University in Cheney. Her graduate work in literacy at WWU aligns closely with her professional development focus in the classroom and TOSA roles.
Shuksan Middle School serves students in grades six through eight, drawing from neighborhoods in Bellingham's north and east sides. Like middle schools throughout Whatcom County, Shuksan navigates the particular challenges of early adolescence, including social-emotional development, the academic transition from elementary school, and preparing students for high school. The assistant principal role is central to the daily functioning of the school, handling discipline, student support, staff coordination, and family communication alongside the principal.
Principal Baldwin's message to Shuksan families described Wallace as bringing "experience, energy and joy" to her work, and expressed confidence that she will develop meaningful connections with staff, students, and families. The selection process included a formal interview committee, which Baldwin thanked in his announcement. This type of transparent communication about leadership transitions is a common practice in the Bellingham School District and helps families stay informed about who will be leading their schools.
For Shuksan families, Wallace represents continuity in the sense that she is a known quantity within the Bellingham district. Her years at Birchwood Elementary and her TOSA work give her familiarity with the district's culture, curriculum, and community. Families with students entering Shuksan in the fall or currently enrolled can expect to be introduced to Wallace through school communications and events at the start of the new academic year.
The full announcement from Principal Baldwin is available on the Bellingham School District news page. Parents with questions about the transition or the upcoming school year can reach out to Shuksan Middle School directly through the district's website.
