Outgoing Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill has sent a farewell letter to members of the public education community cataloging his achievements as director. Director Gill was appointed by Governor Brown as Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction and as a function of that office serves as the Director of the Oregon Department of Education He was confirmed by the Senate on February 12, 2018. Charlene Williams has been appointed his replacement by Governor Kotek.

In a letter to Superintendents, Principals, K-12 Public Information Officers, Education Partner Leaders and Communicators, Business Managers, Gill said, "My time in this capacity of service to you, students, families, and communities has come to an end. Governor Kotek has appointed an incredible Director, Dr. Charlene Williams, to support her education efforts, lead at ODE, and be of service to you. Please know that I am partnering closely with Governor Kotek, Dr. Williams and their teams to provide whatever support may be helpful in this transition. I will be supporting her transition behind the scenes through the end of August."

Gill summarized his work at ODE, "I will miss working with and for all of you. We have worked hard to situate ODE as a service organization to districts and charter schools. My aim was to have the department be a partner in accountability alongside school districts in service to students and families, sharing responsibility for equitable services and outcomes and the federal and state laws that govern our work. We also shared a unique time in history together, leading communities through a global pandemic, historic wildfires, the beginning of a reckoning on racial inequities, and deep political divide."

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Gill will perhaps be remembered for a period of low academic achievement in Oregon public schools where the focus was on equity and inclusion, at the expense of academic excellence. Gill shared a list of his accomplishments, which many would say reflects a lack of serious focus on academics:

• The Student Success Act
• The Every Student Belongs Act
• The Educator Equity Act
• Tribal History/Shared History
• Ethnic Studies Standards
• Social Emotional Learning Standards
• Inclusive Instructional Materials
• Preschool Promise

In 2011, the Legislature passed SB 552 which removed the elected position of State Superintendent of Public Instruction, making the Governor the top education officer in the state. This move has been decried by some as creating an academic system in which the "inmates are running the asylum" with no accountability to the voters.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-07-11 12:05:40

Last Update: 2023-07-11 12:36:21