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spotlight
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Overlooking the Lake
LAKE OSWEGO REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2013 5
and prepares for difficult financial times.
The message is not always easy to hear,
but I understand the need to make them
and know decisions are based on what is
best for our students’ education. I will sup-
port these difficult decisions so that we can
continue to have a quality, well-respected
education for our students.
How can the community best support
schools in this challenging time? I have
always appreciated our community and its
support of the Lake Oswego School Dis-
trict. My hope, is when times get difficult,
our community will understand that those
making decisions — the school board, su-
perintendent, administration, etc. — are
doing so with the best interest of the stu-
dents. I would encourage our community
to provide their input, which is valuable to
any process but to trust that the decisions
being made are done so with the students
at heart.
Lakeridge High School’s
principal
Schiele, who was a school counselor in
Kansas and Missouri, arrived at Lakeridge
Junior High (called Waluga Junior High at
the time) in 2003 as a counselor, becom-
ing assistant principal at Lakeridge High
School in 2004 and shifting back to Waluga
as principal in 2007 before becoming prin-
cipal at Lakeridge.
Schiele attended a school with about
1,300 students, Albert Lea High School
in Albert Lea, Minnesota. While in high
school, she was a three-season athlete —
swimming/diving, basketball and golf.
Schiele danced with the pen as news editor
of the school newspaper and photography
editor for the yearbook. She also was a stu-
dent council representative.
She is married to Scott Schiele, a fi-
nancial consultant for Mercer (Marsh &
McLennan Companies), and she has two
children: Flynn, 10 and Brooklyn, 6.
Why did you become an educator? There
is nothing more powerful than watching a
person truly understand and apply knowl-
edge. I have always believed in the power
of education, and I am convinced each and
every child has the
capacity for great
learning with the
right teacher. I
have loved work-
ing as a teacher,
counselor and
principal because I
want to participate
in and influence
this process for all
students.
What duties does the principal have at
your high school? As principal it is my re-
sponsibility to identify and promote a col-
lective vision for Lakeridge High School
while remaining cognizant of each indi-
vidual’s values and beliefs. I am respon-
sible for implementing and managing the
policies, regulations and procedures of the
Lake Oswego Board of Education. I work
collaboratively to lead and nurture all
members of the school staff and to commu-
nicate effectively with parents, members
of the community and colleagues in other
schools. Inherent in the position are the re-
sponsibilities for planning, curriculum de-
velopment, program evaluation, extracur-
ricular activities, personnel management,
financial management, emergency proce-
dures, resource scheduling and facilities
operations. It is a big job, and it’s so much
fun!
In a couple of sentences, how would you
describe a typical day for you? There is no
typical day in the high school, but I try to
start each day out front greeting students.
Throughout the day I am observing class-
rooms, meeting with families and commu-
nity members and visiting with students
and staff. I try to take care of the phone
calls, scheduling, email and budgeting after
school is over and students are done with
their classes for the day. After the manage-
ment role is complete and the evening rolls
around I am the no. 1 Pacer fan for all the
academic, art and athletic competitions
and performances.
What is the most important lesson you
have learned from your students? Stu-
dents teach me to be humble. I am fortu-
nate every day to talk with them and ob-
serve them in classes, in the halls and at
events. It is amazing how advanced they
are and how capable their generation will
be to lead our global and local community.
The constant awareness of their potential
drives me to ensure they have the condi-
tions to be successful in their future.
What is the most important thing for stu-
dents to learn? The power of caring. It is
my goal to model ways of treating others
so students learn compassion and respect
and how to utilize those skills when work-
ing with others.
In what ways does being a parent help
you be a better administrator and educa-
tor? Being a parent helps form who I am
as an educator. I understand the worries,
anxieties and joys that come with trying to
successfully navigate your child’s educa-
tion. That empathy helps me as I strive to
serve each student and family at Lakeridge
to the best of my ability whether I’m wear-
ing a teacher, counselor, parent, friend or
administrator hat. I believe students have a
higher success rate if schools and families
work effectively together!
How is Lakeridge High different than
LOHS? LOHS and Lakeridge have differ-
ent identities, but both have the same op-
portunities for students with amazing fac-
ulty and staff to serve their students and
families. I am very proud of our school and
our Pacer students, and I try not to spend
time comparing our students to our neigh-
bors on the north side.
How do you think such a rivalry can neg-
atively affect both high schools, and how
does it help to have competition? It is best
for our community to have two strong high
schools with amazing opportunities for all
of our students. I believe it is best for our
faculty, staff and administrators to work
together with not only LOHS but other dis-
tricts across the nation for best practices in
educating all students.
What challenges lie ahead for your
school? We have the same challenges as
all districts in the state of Oregon: limited
resources with demanding mandates from
the state on how we educate all of our stu-
dents. Our district has always been very
strategic in our planning, so we have had
minimum effects on our students’ educa-
tion, but our entire community needs to
work together, so we can continue to offer
a top notch K-12 education to the youth of
Lake Oswego.
How can the community best support
schools in this challenging time? I en-
courage all parents to get involved in the
life of our school and the support of your
child(ren) in worthwhile and meaningful
ways. Make it a point to experience the ex-
cellence of our performing arts productions
and the excitement of spirited athletic con-
tests of all descriptions. There are abundant
opportunities for you to join us throughout
the school year, and our doors are almost
always open — from early in the morning
until late every night. You will always be
welcome and your presence and support
will be very much appreciated.
>> Continued from Page 3
Principal ambitions
Jennifer Schiele
“These two individuals are both top talents. They’re very
good administrators, and we’re real pleased that they’re
both going to be at the helm at our two high schools.”
– Bill Korach, Lake Oswego School District Superintendent