Parkrose, Oregon- Last week, Parkrose High School held an assembly where they recognized Principal Molly Ouche as Oregon’s High School Principal of the Year. This award is decided by the Oregon Association of Secondary School Administrators and Ouche was nominated by Parkrose School District Superintendent, Michael Lopes-Serrao.

A pillar of Ouche’s leadership is her ability  to create equitable, student-centered systems. An example of this is bringing AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) to Parkrose and ultimately gaining recognition as the first National Demonstration site in Oregon. Ouche is often guiding other educational leaders around Parkrose High School, showcasing the school-wide culture and systems that lead to improved post-secondary outcomes for students.

Superintendent Lopes-Serrao calls Ouche a “leader of leaders”, going on to describe how she has “been instrumental in helping design and implement professional learning for our staff. This includes AVID, culturally responsive teaching, coaching and much more. She is a highly skilled facilitator and has the remarkable skill of looking at professional learning as an ongoing process that is integrated into daily practice.”

“Molly is a true leader,” shared COSA Executive Director Craig Hawkins. “Her dedication to doing the right thing for students is worthy of celebration.”

Ouche was surprised with this award in front of her staff, and will be honored in front of a larger audience in June at COSA’s 50th Annual Conference in Seaside, Oregon.