Dear PPS Families,

We are so grateful to our educators and our community who have continued to support our students through these times of transition this year. The presidential election and its fallout, especially the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, have been disturbing and unsettling for all of us, and the feeling of unease continues as next week’s inauguration of Joe Biden nears. We know it can be an especially difficult time for our students and we remain optimistic about the power of democracy and education as they try to make sense of the events and issues.

Dear PPS Community,

I am pleased to announce that Richard L. Smith, an established and accomplished educational leader, will be the principal at Kellogg Middle School when it re-opens in fall 2021.

Dear Lent Community,

I am pleased to announce that Nichole Berg, an experienced bilingual educator and administrator, will serve as interim principal at Lent K-8 School for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) has issued adapted versions of its annual reports for every school and school district, including Portland Public Schools. The 2019-20 reports do not include data on statewide assessments, class size or attendance. That data is typically included but was not gatherable because classes were conducted online starting in March during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dear PPS Families,

I join all those in public education across the country who denounce the attack on the U.S. Capitol yesterday. The violent and ultimately failed insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was traumatic to witness for all of us, including our students, but I remain optimistic about their future and our country’s.

Dear PPS Community,

As we begin 2021, we want to update you on the work that has been completed in the enrollment and program balancing process. On December 17, the Southeast Guiding Coalition (SEGC) held the final meeting of Phase 1 work that focused on middle school grades and finalized its recommendations. 

Dear PPS Families and Staff, 

We want to wish you a warm welcome to 2021 after what was a very challenging 2020 and an unprecedented start to the school year. Thank you for all of your collective support and resilience as we’ve come together as a community to face the COVID-19 pandemic.