Superintendent Dr. Barreras-Brown

Dear SHSD Community and Families,

Wishing you a joyful holiday season! I hope you find time to rest, recharge, and care for yourself. You are essential to our district's and our students' success. Your well-being helps our students thrive.

Our schools and departments are truly special places filled with passionate, dedicated, and highly skilled staff who care deeply about every student’s success. I am continually inspired by the extraordinary learning environments that our families, staff, and community have created together. During my student listening and learning sessions, I have heard students share many wonderful things about their school experiences and creative ideas for change. When I visit classrooms across the district, I see students engaged in innovative and challenging learning every day. They are the heart of our work and the reason we must all come together to cultivate an extraordinary culture that ensures their success.

We have made significant progress, but there is more to do, especially in safety, academics, and financial stability. As we focus on trust, equity, inclusion, and belonging for everyone, positive change will follow. With hope and commitment, we’ll create a culture where all students and staff thrive.

I also want to acknowledge recent changes in the district office due to our ongoing budget challenges. Three positions were eliminated as of November 21, 2025, but we worked to ensure all affected employees were offered roles within our district. Midyear cuts are never easy, and we care deeply about our staff and their families.

The district office is reorganizing, but services to students, staff, and families will continue without interruption. Teaching and Learning will keep two coaches, and the assistant superintendent will take on more duties. The family resource center will move to Communications and Community Engagement, and both Communications and Student Services will keep working with Teaching and Learning to support our most vulnerable students and families throughout this transition.

We sincerely appreciate our SHSD staff’s commitment and recognize how these changes affect all members of our community. Thank you to those impacted for your continued dedication and flexibility. As we move forward, I want to share transparently that we are considering a possible $2.5 million reduction to ensure we maintain a healthy ending fund balance of 5% in accordance with Board Policy. While the prospect of ongoing changes and further reductions may feel unsettling, please know you are not alone. We are committed to working together as we plan for the 2026-27 school year. In the coming months, we will visit schools, review the budget, and actively seek input from students, families, and staff to help protect classrooms and set our shared priorities.  Please join us at Plymouth High School for our next community listening and learning session on January 14th at 4:15 PM, to discuss the budget, district priorities, and to share your feedback.

Sincerely,

Dr. Koreen Barreras-Brown

SHSD Superintendent

Dear St. Helens Students, Staff, and Community,

As the new superintendent, I want to address each of you with openness and sincerity. First and foremost, I extend my heartfelt apologies for the challenges and concerns many of you have experienced within our school district. I recognize the frustrations surrounding communication, transparency, and the overall well-being of our students and staff. Please know that your concerns are valid, and I am committed to listening, addressing those concerns, and ensuring our students remain at the center of everything we do.

Within the St. Helens School District, we are dedicated to fostering a safe and supportive environment for every student and staff member. I recognize the importance of addressing the issues raised in previous listening sessions, from improving behavior management practices to ensuring all voices across our schools and community are respected and heard. I am committed to working closely with our new school board to implement corrective actions and create a clear, forward-looking roadmap for success.

The safety and success of our students are my top priorities. I am focused on cultivating a culture where every student can thrive, both academically and emotionally. In collaboration with the St. Helens School District Board of Directors and our dedicated staff, we will tackle current challenges head-on. Together, we will implement strategies to strengthen communication, enhance safety measures, and increase support for our educators, students, and families.

Another top priority is the financial stability of our district. We’ve had to make significant reductions due to past overspending and the addition of staff without sustainable funding. I understand the concerns these cuts have raised among staff, students, and families. As your fiscal steward, I will work tirelessly to restore furloughed days and ensure our schools are adequately staffed, so we can provide the safe, supportive learning environments our students deserve.

I believe deeply in the power of community engagement and invite each of you to be active partners in this journey. Your insights and feedback are essential as we work to build a more inclusive, responsive, and student-focused school system. I encourage you to attend upcoming listening sessions and engage in open dialogue with me and our leadership team.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our schools. Together, we can create an environment where every child feels safe, supported, and ready to learn.

Dr. Koreen Barreras-Brown

St. Helens School District Superintendent