Salem-Keizer schools poised to have two assistant superintendents starting this year

Salem-Keizer Public Schools is poised to have two assistant superintendents beginning this summer, a break from the tradition of one.

The Salem-Keizer School Board will vote Tuesday on contracts for Linda Myers and Kraig Sproles, who both currently serve in the executive cabinet as directors of student achievement. 

Myers started her career teaching elementary school in Salem-Keizer, after which she spent 11 years as an administrator in the Silver Falls School District in Silverton, according to her district bio. She then accepted the position of director of strategic initiatives for Salem-Keizer in February 2017. 

Myers graduated from Western Baptist College and completed graduate coursework at both Western Oregon University and George Fox University. Her husband is also an administrator in the district. They live in Keizer with their four children.

Class of 2019:Photos from Salem-Keizer & Mid-Valley ceremonies, list of graduates

Sproles joined Salem-Keizer in October 2018. He has been a K-12 educator and administrator for almost 20 years, most recently as the principal of South Shore Elementary School in Albany, according to his bio.

Sproles began his education career as a school improvement coordinator at Gilbert Heights Elementary School in the David Douglas School District in Portland and has been a principal at three elementary schools over the years.

For the bulk of his career, he has worked in Title IA schools with large populations of English Language Learners, focusing on equitable educational opportunities.

Since the contracts have not been approved yet, specific salary amounts have not been set. That said, both are expected to earn more than their current pay due to increased responsibilities, officials said.

The starting salary for a Salem-Keizer assistant superintendent is $117,691. Sproles and Myers would serve in these positions from July 2019 through June 2022.

Honoring police:Salem Police officers recognized for heroics in the line of duty

Search for assistant superintendents

The position of Salem-Keizer assistant superintendent, formerly held by Kelly Carlisle, became vacant in August 2018.

After a recruitment process was conducted, officials determined the "best course of action" would be to have an interim assistant superintendent for the 2018-19 school year, according to board materials. 

District officials decided on two directors of academic achievement — one focused on elementary ed, the other on secondary — and an interim assistant superintendent, filled by Jim Orth, the district's career technical education director.

"This interim leadership structure confirmed how important it is to have dedicated leadership at the executive level for both elementary and secondary education," officials wrote in board materials.

Over the course of the school year, the directors led all aspects of student achievement, including programs previously housed in instructional services.

According to board materials, these responsibilities included overseeing equity access and advancement, elementary and secondary curriculum, preschool programs, federal programs and the office of behavioral learning.

They also led work on the strategic plan and equity work with the boundary review task force.

Support local journalism: Stay up on Marion and Polk county school news with education reporter Natalie Pate. Become a Statesman Journal subscriber and get unlimited digital access to stories that matter.

The future structure of Salem-Keizer

As part of a district reorganization, both Myers and Sproles would be retitled as assistant superintendents upon the approval of their contracts.

Interim assistant superintendent Orth would resume the role of CTE director, while continuing some additional work on the special education redesign.

"This structure will provide continuity of leadership that supports our work of closing the opportunity and achievement gap for our students," officials said.

The new structure does not add positions in the budget, officials said. There are two positions budgeted in executive administration — one director of academic achievement and one assistant superintendent.

During this interim year, no full-time-equivalent positions were added since the interim assistant superintendent retained the duties as director of CTE and that position remained vacant, officials said.

Beaverton and Portland school districts have similar leadership structures, Salem-Keizer officials said, both of which have two deputy superintendents.

2018 report:Oregon campaign contributions came from small number of donors

Officials said this structure provides more stability in the event there is need of an emergency succession.

Should Superintendent Christy Perry need to step down on short notice or be removed from the position, the school board would vote on which of the two assistant superintendents should fill the position as superintendent at that time.

The school board will vote on the approval Myers' and Sproles' contracts at its meeting Tuesday. Meetings begin at 6 p.m. and are held at the Support Services Center, 2575 Commercial Street SE, in Salem.

The school board is also expected to approve the latest budget for the 2019-20 school year, and approve the May election results for the board's three newest members. 

For more information, go to https://salkeiz.k12.or.us/schoolboard/ or call 503-399-3001.

Contact reporter Natalie Pate at npate@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6745 or follow Natalie on Twitter @Nataliempate or Facebook at www.Facebook.com/nataliepatejournalist.