Mikalson named Jefferson County ESD superintendent File photo MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Jefferson County Education Service District and the High Desert Education Service District announced this week that Shay Mikalson will serve as JCESD’s superintendent while also continuing in his current role as chief student success officer with High Desert Education Service District. Mikalson brings 20 years of educational leadership experience to JCESD and served as superintendent for Bend-La Pine Schools for 5 years prior to joining HDESD in July 2020. For nearly 50 years, the part-time JCESD superintendent position has been the shared responsibility of the Jefferson County School District 509-J superintendent. This year, the school board decided to split the position when JCSD 509-J announced that Superintendent Ken Parshall will be retiring in June and Jay Mathisen, currently the director of educational leadership at George Fox University, will take his place.