Royal business manager chosen from among staff

ROYAL CITY - The Royal School District didn't have to go far to find a replacement for recently-departed business manager Clinton Sherman.

According to Superintendent Rose Search, the district has elevated David Andra from middle school math teacher. He just happens to be a long-time friend of Clinton Sherman, who left the post in July and has taken the business manager position at Wahluke.

"We grew up together," Andra said.

Andra and Sherman attended Ephrata High School and were in the same graduating class. Both participated in track and wrestling and were rockers together. Both played guitar and drums.

Andra is a 1998 graduate of Ephrata High. He has a bachelor of arts degree in math education from Eastern Washington University (2004). He taught third grade at the elementary school one year then sixth grade math at the middle school for six.

"This job is a perfect fit for my interests and skills," he said. "I had intended to be a finance major."

After college, Andra intended to work somewhere other than eastern Washington. He did his student teaching in Las Vegas and intended to work there. But Andra applied at Royal instead.

That brought Andra and Sherman back into close contact, and they  learned from each other in recent years. Sherman had questions about education. Andra had questions about school finance.

"I worked a lot with Clinton," Andra said.

According to Search, Andra was chosen for the position because it was thought he would hit the ground running. He understands the position, she said. He has presented several times at teacher in-service training days.

"He's an outstanding teacher," Search said. "When we had new educational initiatives in the district, he stepped right up."

Andra's new assignment is rather simple. When there is a question in the district about numbers - enrollment or financial - Search and the school board will look to him for answers.