Dear Astor Families and University Park Community,

I am greatly honored and excited to take on the role of Astor Principal. I’m a school leader focused on racial equity, and I’m committed to creating welcoming spaces for students and families. I strongly believe that all children deserve an exceptional education that is personalized to their individual needs while preparing them to graduate from college. For many of our students, Astor is the first step in this journey. 

I have worked for the last 14 years in Portland Public Schools, first as a paraeducator, then as a teacher, and now as a school leader. I’ve taught throughout the district, including at SEI, Beverly Cleary, Astor, and Ockley Green. For the last four years, I was the Assistant Principal at Jason Lee. Prior to moving to Portland, I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Fiji Islands with my wife, Miranda. I’m also an Astor parent and have two daughters who attend our school and have loved their experiences so far. I am so happy to be back in North Portland and to be joining the incredible teachers, staff, Dr. K, and all of you for the 2020-2021 school year.

Finally, I have an open door policy; please bring concerns to me at any time. Know that I will approach every situation striving to do what is best for students and putting students first. This has been a difficult and uncertain time for our students, community and world at large. There will be challenges that face us in the coming months, but I’m confident that with your partnership and support we can provide our students with an excellent education.

Warmly,

Principal Robertson
brobertson@pps.net

This will be my 15th year in public education. I have taught in Portland, Estacada, and Oregon City. In Oregon City I co-created and led a successful in-house high school support program that included credit recovery, dropout prevention, and advocacy. Most recently I spent 3 years as Dean of Students at Tualatin High School, where I worked to promote restorative practices across the school and built strong partnerships with teachers and families in support of students. Over the years, my students have taught me that every student will succeed when we remove the barriers. I am passionate about culturally responsive education and building strong partnerships with students, families and community partners. I am also a long-time Portland resident, and I am so excited to be joining the wonderful Astor community!