The Tigard-Tualatin School District (TTSD) was founded in 1992. Since then, several superintendents and Board Chairs have passed through the TTSD School Board. The superintendent’s responsibilities are extensive, some of which include hiring principals, approving policies and working with the School Board. The board chair is the head of the school board, and they conduct meetings and facilitate conversations between the school board and the community. The superintendent and the board chair often work very closely to ensure the success and safety of TTSD’s students. 

In an interview with The Wolf, Superintendent Dr. Sue Rieke-Smith and Board Chair Tristan Irvin discussed their work on the school board and their passion for education.

What is the most fulfilling part of being on the school board? 

Rieke-Smith: The collaborative work I have the opportunity to do with the board on behalf of our PreK-12 students, e.g. diversification of our school and district workforce that mirrors our student populations; providing specialized programming that supports students’ social-emotional and mental health needs; annually developing the district budget based on the board’s strategic plan goals that are targeted to student academic growth, talented staff in the classrooms and safe and welcoming school environments; developing policies that are guided by student voice. 

What are you doing to improve the conditions in TTSD for students?

Irvin: I believe that creating opportunities and spaces for students’ voices to be heard is not only what students have asked for, but feels critical in improving the conditions. You (the students) are the ones experiencing your conditions on a daily basis, so your concerns, ideas and solutions are imperative to those conversations. I also think that when we ask for student input, we also need to be ready to be challenged and then continue those conversations, and that is something that I believe we do, but can absolutely do better.

What is your favorite memory from your time on the board?

Rieke-Smith: I have several favorite memories:

1. Supporting the board’s policy work that resulted in the Policy ACC Educational Equity and Racial Justice; Policy ACB Every Student Belongs—addressing hate speech and acts of bias which serves as a foundation for the board’s strategic plan and the annual academic growth goals of 5% and 8%.
2. Passage of the Student Success Act and TTSD’s SIA plan as this fiscal resource is critical to TTSD’s expansion of mental health and equity work that supports academic growth.
3. Passage of the 2022-27 Board Strategic Plan that affirmed and sustained impactful work begun with the 2016-2021 initial Board Strategic Plan. 

Irvin: Can I have a 347-way tie? Everytime students come and share their experience is my favorite, and it reinforces why I want to do this work. It takes tremendous courage to come, share or present in front of the board, and it gives us a chance to celebrate what you all are doing, and also helps us understand where there is still work to be done.