Tim Merlino

Tim Merlino is the Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer of Educational Service District 112. He began his educational career in 1986 in the ESD 112 business office. He was promoted to Chief Financial Officer and served in that capacity for 28 years before being named superintendent in 2013.

Since his appointment, ESD 112 has evolved into an $80 million enterprise, with significant growth in early learning programs, school construction, STEM initiatives, and innovative student support programs, including a day treatment center for students needing behavioral interventions. Under his leadership, the ESD now owns more than $24 million in facilities and 250,000 square feet of business space to house growing programs and student services.

Regarded throughout the state as an experienced educational leader, Merlino serves on numerous boards and advisory committees both at state and local levels. He is the incoming chair of the Association of Educational Service District’s Superintendent’s Network where he presided over the 50th anniversary of the inception of ESDs. He is a trusted resource at the state legislature, where he helps inform and educate state senators and representatives about the impact of education finance and bills. Most recently, Merlino was a diligent advocate for needed modifications to the financial formula that dramatically changed the school financial landscape in Washington in 2017. The new legislation negatively impacted two-thirds of the state’s school districts, especially small and rural districts with already limited resources.

Merlino also currently serves on the advisory committees for Washington State University-Vancouver, Cascadia Technical Academy and the Vancouver Public Schools Management Task Force. He is also the current vice-chair of the statewide Washington School Information Processing Cooperative.