The Idaho Department of Education appointed Alica Holthaus as deputy superintendent for the state’s northern regions, according to a Wednesday news release.
Holthaus grew up in the local area and taught in several area schools before moving up to administrative positions in the Grangeville School District and then serving as superintendent at St. Maries Joint School District from which she retired in the spring of 2023. She later took on the role of interim superintendent for Grangeville’s Mountain View School District in the summer of 2024.
A news release from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction said Holthaus guided the district through a complex deconsolidation process, resulting in the decision to separate Mountain View School District into two separate entities — Clearwater Valley School District and Grangeville School District — beginning July 1.
Holthaus will bring regional support experience to the Idaho Department of Education through work at the University of Idaho’s Building Capacity project, where she’s served as capacity builder supporting regions 1 and 2 since 2023.
“When we look at how best to support schools across North Idaho, having someone with Alica’s depth of experience and understanding of those communities makes all the difference,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield said in the news release. “She brings both strong leadership and a genuine commitment to students, and we’re excited to have her in this role.”