For all those that follow the usual ebbs and flows of school district-dom, staffing shuffles are just another rite of summer. People retire; replacements get hired. The announcements can come all at once or throughout summer – but for Corvallis Schools, here is what we know so far about the comings and goings for the 2025-26 school year.
LEAVING
Sabrina Wood, director of student services, will conclude her service with the district on June 30, 2025. As the student services director in the Student Growth and Experience Department, she also served as the special education coordinator and was the lead on student behavior, crisis response, family advocates, and threat assessment.
Jennifer Duvall, director of human resources, has announced her retirement effective January 2026.
Lisa Krause, assistant principal at Linus Pauling Middle School, will retire on June 30, 2025, after a 26-year career in education in Corvallis. The school will transition to a two-administrator model with one principal and one assistant principal.
Angie LaGue, assistant principal at Cheldelin Middle School, will leave her position on June 30, 2025. Cheldelin will shift to a leadership model that includes a principal and two deans of students.
CHANGING ROLES
Melissa Harder will continue to serve as the District’s assistant superintendent but will shift her work from student growth and experience director to human resources director, effective July 1, 2025, to allow for a leadership transition.
Because of that shift, Dr. Byron Bethards has been hired as the director of student growth and experience. He most recently served as the principal of Mt. View Elementary School. In 2024-25, he was a half-time principal and spent the other half of his time supporting specialized programs within Special Education. He has worked in education for 15 years and has a bachelor’s degree in education from Western Oregon University, a master’s degree in education from Western Oregon University, and a doctor of education degree in educational leadership from the University of Oregon.
With Bethards leaving Mt. View, Keli Abbott, the current MTSS specialist at Mt. View Elementary, has been hired as its principal. She has worked in education for 16 years and has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Oregon State University, a master’s degree in education from Oregon State University, and a principal license from the University of Oregon.
Kim Johnson, principal of the Bridges Program, will return to her previous role as middle school coordinator.
Kourtney Shreve, the current dean of students at the Bridges Program, has been hired as the new principal. She has worked in education for 18 years and has a bachelor’s degree in family and human services from the University of Oregon, a master’s degree in special education from the University of Oregon, and a professional administrative license from Portland State University.
NEW HIRE
Megan Newell has been hired as the district’s full-time special education coordinator. She currently works as the special programs coordinator for the Greater Albany Public Schools District. She has worked in special education for 11 years and has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a focus in English from Oklahoma State University, a master’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Tulsa, and a principal’s license from Portland State University.
So, that’s what we know so far, and we’ll keep you updated about any further changeups. In a release, Superintendent Ryan Noss said, “We are grateful for the commitment and service of our outgoing leaders and are excited to welcome new administrators into these key roles. These transitions reflect thoughtful planning to ensure strong leadership structures that support our students, staff, and school communities.”
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