Portland Public Schools leaders celebrate hiring new superintendent

When his turn to vote came around, the school board’s vice chair Herman Greene was unequivocal: “Absolutely, yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. All kinds of ‘yes.’ Excited yes. Exclamation points, yes.”

“So, I’m gonna put that as a yes?” bantered Chair Gary Hollands.

The Portland Public Schools governing board unanimously approved its selection for the next leader of Oregon’s largest school district — Kimberlee Armstrong.

The official moment happened during a special board session early Wednesday morning, though the intention to hire Armstrong was announced Tuesday. The board room was filled with excited energy and smiling faces as attendees clapped and cheered for Armstrong.

“This is a dream come true,” Armstrong, 50, told reporters. “This is a moment that I’ve been preparing for for several years. And so, to see it realized, and to be with these wonderful people, stand with an incredible board, there’s no feeling that can describe it other than just saying I feel amazing.”

Armstrong began her educational career as a public school teacher in the Puyallup School District in Washington. Since then, according to the district, she’s spent over two decades in various roles in elementary, middle and high schools. She previously worked in Portland Public Schools as the cabinet-level Chief Academic Officer. The youngest of her four children graduated from Portland’s McDaniel High School last year.

Armstrong currently serves as deputy superintendent of Evergreen Public Schools in Vancouver.

When she starts the new role in July, she said she plans to prioritize improving literacy rates and academic achievement, addressing classroom safety and troubling student behaviors that have increased locally and nationally since the pandemic, as well as advocating for increased funding from the state. She said she’ll do a lot to build relationships too, especially with district educators. District officials said Armstrong will meet with Interim Superintendent Sandy Husk in the weeks leading up to the new superintendent’s official start.

Board member Patte Sullivan said she was relieved the district was deciding between three “quality people who could [each] do a great job as our superintendent.” Salem-Keizer Public Schools leader Iton Udosenata left the candidate pool a few days ago when the Tigard-Tualatin School District hired him as their superintendent. But Sullivan said the Portland board was all on the same page — Armstrong is the right leader for the district right now.

Sullivan, during the Wednesday meeting, shared some of her favorite quotes from students who interviewed Armstrong in the hiring process.

“‘I like that one of her main initiatives is building trust in the system,’” Sullivan quoted aloud. “‘She seems like she is really true to herself — courageous, comfortable.’ ‘She’s really learning. Still learning from students.’ ‘Engages and listens. Has what it takes.’ And finally, my favorite, ‘She’s gonna cook.’” The audience laughed.

“So, welcome [back] to PPS, Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong,” Sullivan ended. “We are ready to ‘cook’ with you.”

Student representative Frankie Silverstein echoed those sentiments, saying Armstrong is the leader Portland needs now. The district is finishing a year that was filled with obstacles — a tense, nearly month-long teachers strike, severe storms that caused school closures, and ongoing concerns over declining enrollment and budget cuts.

“Phoenixes are one of my favorite creatures. I really think there’s something to be learned from the way every time they fall, they can get back up,” Silverstein said. “And that’s sort of how I view PPS right now. And I think you are that spark that’s gonna let the phoenix rise again.”

The support for Armstrong was seen outside the boardroom as well, such as social media posts from parents of students with disabilities excited and hopeful about new leadership.

At a visit to Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School Wednesday morning, Nikki Sandoval, the vice president of the school’s parent-teacher association and the mother of three MLK students, introduced herself to Armstrong. ”It’s so wonderful to see a superintendent that looks like me,” she said, later clarifying that it meant a lot to her especially to have a Black superintendent.

Angela Bonilla, president of the Portland Association of Teachers, told OPB that educators are excited to begin working with Armstrong, especially since her past work with the district and union was “refreshingly collaborative and respectful.”

“We appreciate that Dr. Armstrong not only listens to educator and worker experiences but believes us,” Bonilla said. “Our conversations start from a place of collaborative problem-solving as opposed to posturing. She made it clear that she is dedicated to ending her career here in Portland Public Schools, and our union has always advocated for leadership that actually lives in and loves our city.

“We look forward to collaborating on issues important to our students, educators and families, such as advocating in Salem for full funding for our schools,” she continued. “Congratulations, Dr. Armstrong!”