Wieland said Redinger asked her not to share that information and she honored the request.

Spokane is the second largest school district in Washington state, but it is not significantly larger than Spotsylvania.

Spokane's enrollment is 29,275 and employs 3,226 people. It has a total of 45 schools: 34 elementary, six middle schools and five high schools.

Spotsylvania's enrollment is 23,844 and employs 3,026 people. The division has 33 facilities including 17 elementary schools, seven middle schools, five high schools and four other educational facilities.

The other finalists were Alexander Apostle, superintendent of Missoula County Public Schools in Missoula, Mont., and Gregory Firn, superintendent of Anson County schools in Wadesboro, N.C.

Firn withdrew his application on Sunday, citing personal reasons, Roloff said. He has overseen the 3,900-student Anson school district for four years.

Apostle, who has ties to Washington state, has overseen the 8,750-student Missoula school district for four years, according to information from the Spokane school division.

Redinger came to Spotsylvania after four years as superintendent of the Oregon Trail School District, a division of about 4,100 students.

She grew up in Washington state and earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Washington State University. She received her doctorate from the University of South Carolina.

On Sunday, Redinger notified Spotsylvania School Board members that she was a finalist for the superintendent's position in Spokane.

On Monday, she told her staff.

"We felt that it was important to share this information with the staff and community," Wieland said. "Although we don't want to lose her, we understand her need to be closer to her family."

Wieland added that the division has been pleased with Redinger's performance over the past nine months and "no matter the outcome [of her application] we will continue to support her efforts."

Blalock said people in the community have been expressing disappointment that Redinger might be leaving.

"She has definitely earned a lot of fans," Blalock said. "She is very popular--not someone we wanted to see go."

Pamela Gould: 540/735-1972
Email: pgould@freelancestar.com