New principals, assistant principals, directors replace outgoing administrators
Several 4J schools and departments will have new leadership in 2016–17
ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS
Buena Vista: Melissa Ibarra
Camas Ridge: Wes Flinn
Family School: Jennifer Hebard
Twin Oaks: Lizette Mouett Rodgers
MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS
Arts & Technology Academy: Linda O’Shea
Cal Young: Jericho Dunn
Kelly: Juan Cuadros
Spencer Butte: Tasha Katsuda
MIDDLE SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS
Arts & Technology Academy: AJ Hruby
Kelly: John Wayland
Spencer Butte: George Gillett
HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS
Churchill: Greg Borgerding
ECCO/Alternative Education Administrator: Molly Hammans Gillett
HIGH SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS
Churchill: Ame Beard
South Eugene: Tia Holliday and Heather Stein
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction: Charis McGaughy
Director of Elementary Education: Brooke Wagner
Director of Secondary Education: BJ Blake
Director of Facilities & Transportation: Harlan Coats
Elementary Schools
Buena Vista Principal: Melissa Ibarra is the new principal of Buena Vista Spanish Immersion Elementary School, replacing Juan Cuadros who will be principal of Kelly Middle School next year. Sra. Ibarra has expertise in dual immersion and is fluent in Spanish. Sra. Ibarra previously taught at Buena Vista for several years before taking a position in Springfield where she coordinated the development of Springfield’s new Spanish dual immersion program. She is committed to collaboration, community involvement, promoting success for all students and preparing them for college readiness and success in a global society.
Camas Ridge Principal: Wes Flinn replaces retiring principal Tom Maloney as principal of Camas Ridge Elementary School. Mr. Flinn is an experienced principal who has served for the past nine years as an administrator at Kelly Middle School, currently as principal and previously as assistant principal, but his roots are in the South Eugene region. He believes in multi-age, project-based learning, an important component of the Camas Ridge program. Mr. Flinn is also a great listener and a strong partner with staff, parents and the community.
Family School Principal: Jennifer Hebard has been hired as principal of Family School, replacing Linda O’Shea, who is now principal of Arts & Technology Academy. Ms. Hebard comes to 4J from the Bethel School District in west Eugene, where she has become an experienced teacher leader and mentor. Ms. Hebard is a collaborative leader who values the importance of building relationships with students, families and staff, and supporting the academic success of students with diverse backgrounds and a wide range of academic and social needs.
Twin Oaks Principal: Lizette Mouett Rodgers has been appointed principal of Twin Oaks Elementary School, replacing Kathy Owen, who is retiring. Ms. Rodgers is an experienced school administrator who has served as assistant principal at Spencer Butte Middle School and Churchill High School. Ms. Rodgers has a student-centered approach and is committed to contributing to student success by instilling a positive school climate and community mindset in which all students are safe, respected and valued.
Middle Schools
Arts & Technology Academy Principal: Dr. Linda O’Shea, previously assistant principal at Arts & Technology Academy, will step into the principal role this year as the school’s inaugural leader, Jeff Johnson, takes on a districtwide role as the Federal Programs Administrator. Dr. O’Shea holds a doctorate in education leadership. Dr. O’Shea came to 4J and ATA in 2013 and this past year has had a dual role, spending part of her time as assistant principal at ATA and the rest as principal of the Family School elementary program. She has collaborated with staff to support student learning and has built relationships with students and families, supporting a school community that takes care of every child.
Arts & Technology Academy Assistant Principal: With Linda O’Shea stepping into the principal role, AJ Hruby has been appointed Arts & Technology Academy’s new assistant principal. Ms. Hruby has 17 years of history in 4J as an elementary classroom teacher, teacher leader, essential skills coordinator, Title I coordinator and administrative intern. Ms. Hruby’s skills and experience—including classroom instruction and curriculum, facilitating data, managing behavior effectively, and building relationships with students and families—will be assets to Arts & Technology Academy.
Cal Young Principal: Jericho Dunn has been named the new principal of Cal Young, as Kim Watry returns to a principalship in her home state of Colorado. Ms. Dunn has been assistant principal at South Eugene High School since 2013. She previously taught for 10 years at Thurston High School, St. Paul and Marist and was named Springfield Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year in 2012. Ms. Dunn holds high expectations for students, fosters high-quality instruction, builds community with students, parents and staff, and keeps student learning and success at the center of every interaction and decision.
Kelly Principal: Juan Cuadros is the new principal of Kelly Middle School. Mr. Cuadros is a veteran principal and bilingual/bicultural educator. He has been principal of Buena Vista Spanish Immersion Elementary School for the past seven years, and previously served as middle school assistant principal at Roosevelt, which includes the French immersion middle school program. His extensive experience with language immersion programs will be an asset at Kelly, which hosts both the Japanese and Spanish middle-level immersion programs in the North Eugene region. Before becoming a school administrator, he was a Spanish and ELL teacher. Ms. Cuadros is passionate about educating the whole child and helping all students succeed.
Kelly Assistant Principal: John Wayland is returning to 4J as assistant principal at Kelly Middle School, replacing Charlie Jett who has accepted a principal position in Springfield. Mr. Wayland is a seasoned school administrator who served as assistant principal at South Eugene High School for seven years and associate principal at a middle school in Tigard for the past three years. He is also very familiar with Kelly and the North Eugene community, as he taught language arts and social studies at Kelly for nearly a decade before becoming an administrator.
Spencer Butte Principal: Tasha Katsuda will be principal of Spencer Butte Middle School in 2016–17, replacing Greg Borgerding who will move to Churchill High School. In her 20-year history in 4J, Ms. Katsuda taught middle school students for several years before becoming a school administrator, and has served in roles including assistant principal of Jefferson Middle School, principal of McCornack Elementary School, and district-wide administration roles. Ms. Katsuda is committed to collaborating with colleagues and families, building community, and supporting every student to belong, succeed and thrive.
Spencer Butte Assistant Principal: George Gillett has been hired as assistant principal of Spencer Butte Middle School, replacing Lizette Mouett Rodgers who is now principal of Twin Oaks Elementary School. He has experience at the middle school and high school level, and most recently has been teaching at Guy Lee Elementary School in Springfield, where he facilitated the student positive behavior support (PBIS) and technology teams, served on the school improvement team, and created a mentoring program for students of color. Mr. Gillett is a creative, caring and experienced educator who believes that all students are capable of achieving great things, and that his job is to give students the tools to do it.
High Schools
Churchill Principal: Dr. Greg Borgerding is the new principal of Churchill High School, replacing BJ Blake who has been appointed Director of Secondary Education. Dr. Borgerding holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and is a strong secondary administrator with experience at the middle and high school levels. Before being named principal at Churchill, he served as principal at Spencer Butte Middle School and previously at a middle school in Washington. Before that, he was focused on the high school level, including overseeing CTE and AVID programs as a district director, serving as a high school assistant principal, and teaching high school English language arts. Dr. Borgerding is dedicated to doing what’s best for kids, supporting innovation in the education profession, ensuring high levels of learning for all students, and preparing them for successes beyond high school.
Churchill Assistant Principal: Ame Beard will be an assistant principal at Churchill High School, replacing Molly Hammans who is now ECCO principal and alternative education administrator. For the past three years Ms. Beard has been principal and executive director of Network Charter School in Eugene. She has a rich and varied background supporting education: Between starting out as a teacher in 4J and becoming a school administrator, she founded and grew an educational software company, served as director of human resources and support services for an education service district, and was a trainer for the small business development center at Lane Community College.
Eugene Education Options/ECCO Principal: Molly Hammans Gillett has been named principal of Early College & Career Options (ECCO) and administrator of Eugene Education Options alternative programs, replacing Stephanie Cannon, who served as the interim administrator last year. As assistant principal at Churchill High School, Ms. Gillett has built strong relationships with staff and students and collaborated to improve instructional technology, connections with special education, and the alternative education referral process. She has also been engaged in the district’s alternative education task force. Ms. Gillett’s previous background includes experience in other administrative positions, state- and district-level roles, teaching math, language arts and social studies, and assisting in a special education learning center. She is dedicated to providing equitable, high-quality educational experiences for all students, valuing each student as an individual, and preparing them to successfully enter the workforce or earn a college degree.
South Eugene Assistant Principal: Tia Holliday has been appointed assistant principal at South Eugene High School. Ms. Holliday is an experienced instructional leader at the secondary level and has already been serving as interim assistant principal at South for the past two years. She also has experience as a science teacher, science department chair, small schools teacher leader, summer bridge coordinator, student achievement specialist / essential skills coordinator, and regional essential skills coordinator. Ms. Holliday is committed to nurturing every student’s cognitive and emotional growth as they transition to young adulthood, and to making school a place where every kid belongs and knows they belong.
South Eugene Assistant Principal: South Eugene High School also is gaining Heather Stein as an assistant principal, replacing Jericho Dunn who has been appointed principal at Cal Young. Ms. Stein has worked with South Eugene and other schools as a regional essential skills coordinator and has experience as an administrator and administrative intern at Spencer Butte Middle School and Adams Elementary School. She was a music educator in other districts in Oregon and Washington for 20 years before seeking administrative licensure.
Department Directors
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction: Dr. Charis McGaughy has been named assistant superintendent for instruction, a critical role supporting the district’s top priority of quality instruction and successful outcomes for all students. The assistant superintendent role has been restored in lieu of the chief of staff position Dr. McGaughy previously held. She assumed the leadership and oversight of the Instruction Department in December 2015. Dr. McGaughy holds a master’s degree in public affairs and a doctorate in educational policy, leadership and organizations, and has an extensive background in practice, policy and research. She started her career as a classroom teacher and has worked at the state level in both Texas and Tennessee. Before coming to 4J, Dr. McGaughy was director of the Educational Policy Improvement Center (EPIC) for 7 years. She has had a life-long commitment to public education and eliminating achievement and opportunity gaps, and is passionate about supporting 4J’s mission to provide each student with an excellent education.
Director of Elementary Education: Brooke Wagner is returning to 4J as director of elementary education, overseeing elementary schools and other programs, replacing retiring director Sara Green. Ms. Wagner was a teacher and administrator in 4J for several years before becoming a principal in the neighboring Springfield district for nearly a decade, first at Briggs Middle School and more recently at Thurston Elementary School. She was named Oregon’s Assistant Principal of the Year by the Oregon Middle Level Association in 2006 and was named Springfield Public Schools’ Champion Administrator in the 2015 ACE Awards. Her student-centered, collaborative leadership will serve our students, our schools and our district in this critical role.
Director of Secondary Education: BJ Blake has been named director of secondary education, replacing Randy Bernstein, who is retiring. Ms. Blake will oversee middle and high schools and other programs. Her rich history in 4J since the year 2000 spans all three school levels and three of the district’s four regions, with service as assistant principal of Churchill High School, principal of the co-located Buena Vista Spanish Immersion Elementary School and (now closed) neighborhood Meadowlark Elementary School, principal of Spencer Butte Middle School, and finally as principal of Churchill High School. Before coming to 4J she taught at a South Lane elementary school for 11 years. She was recognized for excellence as the Eugene School District’s Champion Administrator in the 2009 ACE Awards. Ms. Blake is devoted to building strong relationships and working collaboratively with colleagues, parents and the community; supporting rigorous and dynamic instructional programs to provide outstanding educational experiences for all students; ensuring educational equity and excellence; and most of all, to doing what is best for kids, every day.
Director of Facilities and Transportation: Harlan Coats is now 4J’s director of facilities and transportation, replacing longtime director Jon Lauch who has retired from the district after a quarter-century with the 4J facilities department. Mr. Coats began his singularly dedicated service to supporting 4J schools in 1981. In his 35 years of service, he has come to be well-known and appreciated across the district for his caring, responsiveness and unflagging work ethic. Mr. Coats understands how schools work and the effort it takes to keep them running smoothly—and he is always looking for ways he can help make that happen. He was named 4J’s administrator champion in last year’s ACE Awards. Ryan Spain has been named facilities and maintenance manager, bringing his exceptional project management and communication skills and nearly 15 years of construction industry experience, to fill Mr. Coats’ previous role.
(article updated as additional appointments announced)
