Andy Van Fleet

Tigard, Oregon – Tigard-Tualatin School District (TTSD) Superintendent Dr. Sue Rieke-Smith announced today that Tigard High School Principal Andy Van Fleet will be the new principal at Fowler Middle School (FMS).  Van Fleet steps into the role previously filled by Dan Busch who is leaving to take on the position of assistant superintendent with the Silver Falls School District. He will assume the position on July 1, 2019.

“Andy has been instrumental in systems at Tigard High School (THS) that address trauma and remove barriers for students resulting in a positive and measurable impact on student achievement,” said Superintendent Rieke-Smith. “We are thrilled that he will now put these systems into practice at the middle school level to address these barriers earlier, prior to students reaching high school. There is no doubt students and staff will benefit from his leadership.”

Van Fleet has been the principal of Tigard High School since 2014. Prior to joining TTSD, Andy was an assistant principal at Willamette High School in the Bethel School District and a teacher at Southridge High School in Beaverton School District. At THS, Andy has been recognized as a coach and mentor for staff. Under his leadership, THS celebrates strong gains from intentional practices with Special Education, Latin-x and economically disadvantaged students as evidenced in a 7% growth in THS’s graduation rate during his tenure.

“I am beyond excited to work with the families and students at Fowler who will eventually become Tigard Tigers,” said Van Fleet. “I understand the rigors of high school intimately. I believe I will be a crucial voice in helping striving middle school students see themselves as successful learners and put them in the best position for success in high school and beyond.”

Andy earned a BA of Arts and English from Oregon State University; a MA in Teaching from Pacific University; his initial Administrative Licensure from Lewis & Clark College and his Continuing Administrative Licensure from University of Oregon and Lewis & Clark College.  Andy lives in Sherwood with his wife, Madri and their three daughters.

TTSD will begin an immediate search for a new principal at Tigard High School. Interested candidates are encouraged to visit www.ttsdschools/employment.

Amber Fields

Tigard, Oregon – Tigard-Tualatin School District (TTSD) Superintendent Dr. Sue Rieke-Smith announced today the promotion of Amber Fields to Director of Secondary Education and College & Career. Fields assumes the oversight of TTSD secondary programs as longtime Assistant Superintendent Karen Twain retires. That role includes Tualatin and Tigard High Schools, Durham Education Center, Tigard-Tualatin Online Academy, and the HUB high school re-engagement program. She will continue to direct all district programs dedicated to graduation, dropout prevention/re-engagement, college, and career readiness.

“Amber is a fearless champion for instituting practices dedicated to equity of access and options for all students,” said Superintendent Dr. Sue Rieke-Smith. “She is a widely respected administrator with a true gift for achieving collective vision centered on student opportunity and success. Stepping into the leadership position of our secondary programs creates a seamless alignment that will convene our administrators in a common vision where all students are on a path to graduate with a responsible and sustainable plan for the future.”

Fields began her career as a high school English teacher at Shorewood and Garfield High Schools in Washington. She has also served the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle as program director of the Urban League Scholars program and assistant principal roles at Garfield and Franklin High Schools in Seattle. Amber joined TTSD as an assistant principal at Tigard High School in 2015, then returned to TTSD in 2018 to manage the district’s commitment to Oregon Ballot Measure 98 – the High School Graduation and College and Career Readiness Act of 2016.

Fields earned a BA in English and Communications from the University of Washington and a MA in Teaching from Seattle University. She holds both a Substitute Teacher and Principal Certificate

Tigard, Oregon – Tigard-Tualatin School District (TTSD) Chief Financial Officer David Moore announced today the realization of $21.9 million in bond premium on the sale of the remaining authorized $90.36 million of the original $291.315 million in General Obligations Bonds approved by Tigard-Tualatin voters in November 2016. The premium dollars will provide additional bond program contingency as the District completes remaining projects over the next few years.

“Factors that led to today’s favorable outcome included the excellent leadership from the School Board and superintendent, counsel from financial partners and TTSD’s strong financial condition and management,” said CFO Moore. “TTSD’s bonds are attractive to investors due to the district’s high credit rating, outstanding credit reputation, and strong fund balances.”

TTSD’s bonds are exempt from Oregon’s relatively high-income tax rate giving in-state buyers an extra advantage. Given that the volume of Oregon bonds has been very low in recent months, TTSD was well positioned to capitalize on high local demand. The district also credits the successful outcome to the exemplary guidance and service during the bond sale process from its financial advisors and underwriters to include PFM Financial Advisors, senior underwriter Piper Jaffray and co-manager underwriters, DA Davidson and Wells Fargo in addition to bond counsel Hawkins, Delafield and Wood LLP.  

In November of 2016, TTSD voters approved a bond measure to significantly improve aging facilities, invest in critically needed safety improvements and build a new elementary school. The new Durham Education Center, phase one of Tigard High School, Templeton Elementary and the addition to Tualatin High School are scheduled to celebrate completion in August 2019. Construction of Twality Middle School begins in June 2019 with an expected completion winter of 2021. The groundbreaking for the new Rutkin Elementary School is scheduled for winter of 2020 and anticipated to open for the 2021-22 school year. Phase two of Tigard High School is scheduled to be completed late spring 2020. Infrastructure and safety improvements are ongoing.

Tigard, Oregon – Tigard-Tualatin School District (TTSD) Superintendent Dr. Sue Rieke-Smith announced today the appointment of Zinnia Un to the newly formed position of Equity and Inclusion Coordinator.  Un will work alongside the School Board, superintendent and district administrators to institutionalize systems and practices across the district that identify inequities, remove barriers and sets all students on strong paths to success in school and in life.

 “Zinnia fills a role for our district that is critical to advance the overall goals of the TTSD Strategic Plan,” said Superintendent Rieke-Smith. “Her personal, professional and academic drive for equity and inclusion will push us and inspire us to identify and remove bias from our administration, our schools and our classrooms. Instituting this work, with Zinnia’s leadership, will change the culture of the academic experience and success for our students.”

 Zinnia has been with TTSD for seven years serving as a learning specialist and equity coordinator at Twality Middle School and, for the past two years, led the district’s equity initiatives to include professional development of leadership, teachers and staff. In this new role, she will build on that foundation, strengthening relationships with students and their families and working with culturally specific organizations to improve or create systems of support for our students of color. Zinnia will work closely with administrators to review and enhance district practices to include hiring, training and retention practices as well as instruction, curriculum and overall school environment.

 “Someone asked me recently, what drives the work that I do for equity,” said Un. “It has taken a lot of reflection and many iterative definitions of equity, to highlight the core of this work for me personally and professionally. Today, my working definition of equity that drives me is

Equity reminds us that we are a human system and helps us slow down to learn from our mistakes before they become links of regret and shame that wraps us like armor and hides the semblance of our humanity. In slowing down we also see the potential and opportunities to strengthen our collective spirit and efforts to be a community that sees, serves, and values the people that brings it to life.

I see this role as creating opportunities for teachers, staff, and leaders as well as students, parents, and community members to see how the goal of equity and inclusion betters all of us.”

 Un earned a BS in Social Science and a MS in Special Education from Portland State University (PSU) where she earned her Teaching Licensure and Special Education and PK-12 Reading Endorsements. She is currently pursuing her Doctoral degree at PSU with a focus on Equity in Complex Systems and is scheduled to complete in fall of 2020.

Due to the ongoing construction at Tigard High School, the daylong activities and entertainment portion of the Tigard Old Fashion 4th of July celebration is canceled this year. 

The fireworks display will go on as scheduled starting between 9:00 and 9:30 PM from Cook Park.