Dear PPS staff and families,

The search and recruitment for our new superintendent is well underway.

The community, board and search firm recommended more than 40 educational leaders for consideration. The search firm and the Board reviewed the prospects and candidates and the Board selected a diverse group with deep educational experience to interview. They included individuals from within and outside Oregon, current superintendents as well as senior education leaders from large districts.

From a remote town in Jordan to leading Oregon’s biggest school district

At the age of 5, Yousef Awwad joined his older brothers in the streets of Ghweria, Jordan, a small city outside Zarqa, to sell sesame candies and balloons to keep food on his family’s table.

Yousef’s dad was serving in the Jordan military and was stationed in an area of the desert so remote that he wasn’t able to send money home while he was deployed.

Today, Yousef is serving as the new interim superintendent of the largest school district in Oregon. How did a boy living in poverty in a remote town in Jordan wind up here?

The new PPS Board of Education held its first regular meeting Tuesday to discuss the search for a permanent superintendent and hear from a community group about the future of Tubman Middle School.

Julia Brim-Edwards elected chair; Julie Esparza Brown, Rita Moore are co-vice chairs

Two newly elected members and one current member of the Portland Public School Board will assume leadership roles following a special July 7 board meeting.