Rachael George serves as the Executive Director of Student Services and Elementary Programs as well as the Prek Principal in the Oregon Trail School District. She is the past principal of Sandy Grade School in Sandy, Oregon. She spent seven years living the dream as an elementary school principal and prior to that was a middle school principal in Southern Oregon for three years where they were an “outstanding” and two-time “Level 5: Model School,” as recognized by the Oregon Department of Education.

During her time at Sandy Grade, they have experienced a complete turn around in academic achievement and growth. Over the course of her leadership, they went from outperforming ten percent of all Oregon elementary schools to now outperforming approximately seventy five percent of Oregon elementary schools. They have some of the highest growth rates in the area and are always striving to improve as they focus on growing all kids through academics, attitude, and attendance. This has taken a lot of hard work and collective efficacy by staff, students, and families as we work to move the needle and close the achievement gap.

George specializes in curriculum development, instructional improvement, working with at-risk students, and closing the achievement gap. She holds a Bachelors in Environmental Studies from Southern Oregon University, a Masters of Arts in Teaching from George Fox University, a Masters of Science in Mathematics Education from Oregon State University, as well as Doctorate in Educational Leadership from George Fox University. She has taught at the high school, middle school, and elementary level.

Outside of her building and district, George has been extremely active at the state and national level. She has previously served as the Oregon Elementary School Principals Association (OESPA) President and is currently Oregon’s State Representative to the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the President to the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA). George has been a consistent advocate for education on both a state and national level. Each year she spends time on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC meeting with state and federal leaders to talk about the importance of Title IIa, ESSA, working to fully fund IDEA, and other important educational topics.

Outside of work, you can find her teaching future principals through COSA’s administrative licensure program with Concordia of Chicago, writing and blogging about education and spending time outside as she loves to ski and run.

Rachael is active on social media and you can connect with her on Twitter @DrRachaelGeorge or on her website drrachaelgeorge.com