Silver Fall School District superintendent candidate Linda Myers and her husband, Paul, have three children, Cole, 10; Elise, 6; and Emerson, 3. This winter, Linda and Paul are traveling to China to adopt 1-year-old Jack. Her hobbies are scrapbooking, singing, playing with her children and “anything outside in the sun!”
What were you like as a student? “I did very well in school but I was very social. My report cards typically had straight As, but they also frequently had notes from my teachers that I spent too much time talking in class.”
Describe your leadership style: “Open and approachable. Fair and collaborative. But I just really enjoy my work…and that enthusiasm is typically contagious.”
Why do you want to be superintendent? “I think Silver Falls is the best district in the region and we have the right team on board doing the right work with kids. I would be honored to lead this group of administrators, teachers and support staff.”
Why are you a good fit? “I am a good communicator and I can process information quickly. I consistently make decisions based upon the best interest of the students in our classrooms, in our schools and in our entire district. My single focus is to ensure that each child is successful…and to provide any and all necessary supports to make that happen.”
Describe your vision or goals: “The district is moving in a positive direction with teacher improvement as it relates to student performance. Our teachers spend valuable time working together to plan lessons, teach content and measure how well students are learning. I definitely want to see this continue and I believe we can expand upon this concept of Professional Learning Communities to make sure teachers are provided all the necessary tools and tricks to make sure we are meeting the academic, social and emotional needs of each and every child in our classrooms.”
Why are you proud of the SFSD? “Silver Falls holds deep to a sense of community. We offer our families choices by continuing our open enrollment policy. Schools in town and in the outlying regions are providing great educations for our kids, and families are an integral part of that process. That type of volunteerism and community involvement doesn’t exist in every school district.”
What needs improvement? “We need to continue to work hard to inform families about changing policies and legislative updates, specifically regarding things like high school diploma changes and new testing requirements. We value the partnership the district has with families and we need to always be proactive about making sure families are thoroughly informed about changes that may impact their child’s education plan.”
What does the district’s motto “Every Child is A Promise” mean to you? “Regardless of the skills that kids have when they come through our doors, regardless of the family situations they experience…..we will identify the strengths in every child and capitalize on those to make each and every student successful.”
What are the challenges ahead? “Since the economy and budget forecasts are still somewhat unstable, it is likely there will continue to be some difficult economic decisions facing us this coming year. In addition, while we are celebrating the completion of the high school facility, there are other building and facilities maintenance issues that need to be addressed sooner rather than later.”
Anything else? “After working in the district for a few years, we chose to move our family to live in this community as well. My children attend school in this district and their education in the Silver Falls Schools was a huge draw for us. We love the small town atmosphere, especially the unique Silverton celebrations like the Pet Parade and Homer Davenport Days.”
