Dear Fellow Oregonian,
The most important part of my job as Superintendent of Public Instruction is making sure that all students in our public schools learn the academic and life lessons that will prepare them for work or to go on to college.
We are very fortunate in Oregon to have dedicated teachers, administrators, education support personnel, classified employees, and school district leaders who want to help their students succeed in college, work, and life. Oregonians place a high value on our public schools and have a strong tradition of supporting our educators and students.
As Superintendent, I speak to educators all across America and it is clear that the next few years are critical for our students and our public schools. Our children need the skills to compete in the global economy and we cannot afford to fall further behind; Oregon’s students deserve to succeed. The world is changing quickly and our current economic recession serves as a clear reminder that strong public schools are the foundation for a strong and prosperous Oregon economy.
A strong and vibrant public school system takes active participation by teachers, students, parents, administrators, and community leaders. But when we all work together and take responsibility for educating Oregon’s 565,000 schoolchildren, we can make a positive difference in the lives of our students.
My commitment to Oregon’s public schools and students is stronger than it has ever been. We have an exciting opportunity to move successful work forward so we can deliver the results we all want—every student graduating well prepared for his or her next steps.
Sincerely,
Susan Castillo
Superintendent of Public Instruction
