In August of 2017, the PPS School Board unanimously appointed Guadalupe Guerrero as Superintendent of Portland Public Schools. After seven years, Guerrero resigned as one of the longest serving superintendents in PPS. He will serve his last day on Feb. 16, 2024, with Sandy Husk to replace him as the interim superintendent.
Many are quick to suspect the main reason for the resignation was the strike this November. Guerrero did not give a reason for his departure in his official resignation statement, but he did say that he was “grateful for the trust and opportunity to have led Portland Public Schools for the past seven school years,” and was “immensely proud of my team’s contribution” to the betterment of the district throughout his term. Despite this, no discernable data has been accomplished toward his goal of assisting underserved communities and underachieving students.
One of Guerrero’s first important proposals was to break up ACCESS and move the students to campuses across PPS. Guerrero quickly rescinded this proposal following protests from ACCESS parents. In 2018, Guerrero–trying to support ACCESS–proposed to move Pioneer School. The plan was to shuffle some schools around so that ACCESS could have a permanent school residence. Pioneer was a school that supported students with behavioral, medical, and academic needs. The proposed movement of Pioneer prompted lawsuits, and Guerrero decided to dissolve Pioneer, right before the end of the year.
Recently, PPS announced that Sandy Husk, a former Salem-Keizer superintendent, will be the interim superintendent. It is unclear what Guerrero will do with his final days in the position, but hopes remain high as the new year continues. Oregon Public Broadcasting provided numerous details that support her competency, including her previous tenures of 18 years, a position as the chief executive officer of AVID, and experience with the Oregon school system in Salem for seven years.
PAT Representative Ami Fox weighed in on what the teachers union wants for a new superintendent. “We’re hoping for someone who actually listens to and believes the stakeholders that are on the ground with their experience that they’re having in the classroom,” Fox said, adding, “For me personally, I’d like to see the superintendent structure possibly go away and elevate true ground leaders that are part of PPS already.”
As PPS transitions into a new era, it is hoped that people like Husk will provide life for the district. But with so much to accomplish, the position still remains in a delicate balance.
