Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Page A-9
(Photo by Laura Mancuso, Illinois Valley News)
Women of the Year Lindsey Gillette received her award from the I.V. Chamber
of Commerce Friday, May 20 at the Chateau.
Valley boy takes top
spot at 3 rivers
Judy Hoyle
IVN Contributing Writer
change the apathy toward
education that I see every
day in every corner of our
district.”
“Don’t get me wrong,
we have many students and
families that place a high
importance on education and
hard work. However, there
are far too many families and
students on the opposite end
of the spectrum as it relates
to the importance of a quality
education in their lives.”
“As human beings,
it is in our very nature to
be learners. We learn to
understand, we learn to
overcome and we learn to
transcend beginning from
birth. I hope I can nurture this
instinct and promote a passion
for lifelong learning in every
single student we serve.”
When asked if he
has ideas for increasing
graduation rates he said he
felt too many students are
not making it to their senior
year and walking across the
graduation stage due to apathy
and not seeing the importance
of education. I hope to
address this issue at its roots. I
want students to retain a love
for learning that many enter
kindergarten with, throughout
their educational career.”
Finally, when asked
how interested community
members could best help
TRSD, he said, “I have a
deep admiration for our
parent and community
volunteers. We have so
many people willing to help
our schools and students.
Our schools should be the
capstone of our communities,
a place of learning, sharing,
collaboration and celebration.
There were times when
everyone in a community
would go to a Friday night
football game or holiday
concert.
“More and more these
days it is only the parents and
family members that attend
these activities. Interested
community members can
help TRSD by creating a
TRSD community that is
focused on creating the best
possible opportunities for our
students.”
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David Valenzuela
will become interim
superintendent of Three
Rivers School District
(TRSD) beginning July 1.
Valenzuela was chosen
from two finalists following
interviews during a board
executive session May 11.
He served as TRSD
director of curriculum and
instruction, technology, and
federal programs for the past
four years.
Valenzuela grew up
in the Illinois Valley and
attended Selma Elementary.
He graduated from Illinois
Valley High School in 1991.
Including his time as a student
in the school system, he’s
been associated with the
district for over 37 years.
During his career, he’s
worked in almost every
capacity in TRSD, including
maintenance.
He’s taught middle and
high school, and worked in
administrative capacities at all
school levels and the district
office.
Before taking his
current position, he served
as principal at Evergreen
Elementary for six years.
He also served as
assistant principal at Lincoln
Savage Middle School for two
years, assistant principal at
Eagle Point High School for
one year, and taught multiple
subjects for Fleming Middle
School and Illinois Valley
High School for six years.
Valenzuela holds a
Master of Arts in secondary
education degree from
Southern Oregon University,
and a Bachelor of Arts in
secondary education from
Western Oregon University.
When asked how his
long association with the
school district prepared him to
lead it, he responded, “Having
that experience is one of the
most valuable tools at my
disposal. Our community,
our families and our students
have their own ideas on what
a quality education should
look like. If I don’t already
share those ideas, I believe
that growing up here allows
people to feel comfortable
coming to me with concerns.
At the very least I hope that
the people of TRSD have
trust and faith in my ability to
represent them in my role as
superintendent.”
Valenzuela stated that
TRSD has moved in a very
positive direction over the
past two years and he felt
relationships between the
district and the school board,
the collective bargaining units
and the community in general
are strong and productive.
“My priority is to
maintain this positive
momentum and keep the focus
of our work on improving
learning conditions for our
students,” he said, and added,
“We are stronger when we
work together!”
When asked if he had a
favorite teacher or counselor
that influenced him to choose
a career in education, he
replied, “I can’t say that I
had a favorite educator over
the course of my educational
career, but I had many
memorable and positive
influences during my time
as a Three Rivers student.
My most recent memory is
of Gary Thornhill. He was
my teacher, coach and then
colleague when I was teaching
at Illinois Valley High School.
Gary has always been a great
mentor, to me and many
young folks from the Illinois
Valley. I value his influence
and guidance greatly. Another
positive influence on me as an
educator has been Jann Taylor.
Her professionalism and
dedication to building strong
programs for kids motivates
me to be a better educator and
all-around person.”
As the Director of
Curriculum, Valenzuela made
it a focus to be involved in
activities that would have a
positive impact on students.
“It is my hope that I
will find ways to leverage
my new position to broaden
my resources and influence
to better the educational
offerings we provide to the
students of TRSD,” he said.
When asked if he
could change one thing
about TRSD, what it would
be, he said, “Superficially
I would change the cost of
transportation to the district.
We cover a staggering number
of miles every day to get
our students from home to
school and back again. We
are laying millions of dollars
on the road every year, and I
wish we could put them into
our classrooms. The state
reimbursement model for
transportation is critically
flawed and needs to be
reworked.”
He then said, “On a
deeper level I would like to
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