Rightsize. Right Support. Right for Students.
Portland Public Schools is undertaking a districtwide rightsizing process to better align our schools, programs, and resources with the needs of today’s students and the realities shaping our future.
The PK-12 Programs & Pathways Department oversees Visual and Performing Arts, Health and Physical Education, World Languages, Learning Acceleration, College and Career Readiness, CTE+AP+IB, Talented and Gifted (TAG) services, DART, Teen Parent Services, and the Instructional Resource Center.
Notice: As of September 2026, our PK-12 Programs & Pathways pages are undergoing updates.
Content may temporarily be outdated or incomplete during this transition. We appreciate your patience.
EducationPPS Health, Adapted Physical Education and Physical Education programs use evidence-informed best practices to foster safe, supportive and fun learning environments that engage diverse students in their development of skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to thrive academically, and to celebrate lifelong wellness.
Learning Acceleration in PPS is the intentional implementation of a set of strategies intended to leverage students’ assets, strengths, and gifts in order to accelerate learning, provide access to unfinished learning, and move every student towards mastery of key grade level standards and skills.
Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) refers to the disciplines of Dance, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts.
Portland Public Schools offers arts education to 78 schools across the district. With over 200 certified arts teachers, we are one of the largest organizations providing arts education in the state of Oregon. We offer multiple opportunities for artistic expression from kindergarten through twelfth grade, beginning level to pre-professional.
TAG collaborates with all neighborhood schools to support programs where we can better address all TAG students’ needs, develop and nurture students who show potential for demonstrating high levels of critical thinking and establish a pathway to positive partnerships with families.
Filip Hristic
Senior Director
PK-12 Programs & Pathways
fhristic@pps.net
Chris Brida
Director
Career & Technical Education & Pathways
cbrida@pps.net
Yeng Dhabolt
Director
College & Career Readiness
ydhabolt@pps.net
Darcy Soto
Director
Extended Learning + TAG
dsoto@pps.net
Sunita Sandoz
Director
Charters
ssandoz@pps.net
Kristen Brayson
Director
Core Enrichment
kbrayson@pps.net
Dr. Jenny Withycombe
Assistant Director
PE/Health
jwithycombe@pps.net
Alice Croteau
Admin. Asst.
(503) 916-5653
acroteau@pps.net
