John George, principal of Fleming Middle School in Three Rivers School District, has been named the Oregon Middle School Principal of the Year by the Oregon Association of Secondary School Administrators (OASSA) and the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA).

OASSA leaders report that George was selected because of his work moving Fleming Middle School from a "Persistently Dangerous" to an "Outstanding" school.   Under George's leadership, Fleming has grown into a high-performing school where structures and practices continually evolve to meet a changing student population and budgetary challenges.  Student and staff success has been a consistently inclusive, supportive and definitive culture. 

“Whether I influenced the behavior of others or not is open to interpretation and debate.  What I can comfortably state is that I provided everyone with an opportunity to express, question and formulate ideas, opinions, processes and structures which would eventually lead to school improvement,” said George. 

In December of 2013 Oregon Secretary of State representatives came to Fleming Middle School to interview administration and staff to report to the OEIB how Fleming is overcoming the achievement gap for economically disadvantaged students.  The level of performance by students and staff is impressive at first glance but remarkable when examined at depth.  Class sizes average in the mid-30s, 28 percent of students live with an extended family and not a biological parent, 16 percent of students are in foster care and the homeless population hovers at 14 percent. 

George joined Three Rivers School District in 1998 and has taught science, math, and health.  He has been a head football coach and athletic director.   He was appointed as the principal of Fleming Middle School in 2003.

The award places John as a candidate for the National Middle School Principal of the Year Award from the National Association of Secondary School Principals and MetLife.  He will be honored at the Annual COSA Conference in Seaside and at the NASSP State Principals of the Year Institute and Awards Gala in Washington, D.C.