Cris Gwilliam named 2024 Oregon Middle School Principal of the Year!

We are incredibly honored that St. Helens Middle School Principal Cris Gwilliam was selected as the 2024 Oregon Middle School Principal of the Year!

Recently, Cris was featured in a video by The Center for Educational Leadership, where he shares the most important lesson he’s learned from his students. We are so proud of his dedication and the positive impact he continues to make in our community.

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"Being an educator has been my job since I was twenty-one years old; one could say I never left school. I say I get to do something I love as a profession. It's an honor to be the recipient of an award that recognizes service to children in education.

Helping students find their passion for learning is what makes middle school so fun and challenging. In order for students to enjoy learning, they need an inclusive, safe, and supportive school culture where they can take risks and explore opportunities. Healthy school culture is what the teachers and staff of St. Helens Middle School specialize in. I’m blessed with the opportunity to lead on a team of champions for students.

Middle school students are looking to be inspired, and they are searching for their identity. This makes middle school students vulnerable to learning and prone to growth. It is an incredibly exciting phase of life that St. Helens Middle School recognizes by offering a diverse selection of courses, sports, activities, and clubs. This rich and robust experience led by our teachers is what engages our students in discovering their talents and connects them to the school community.

In order for students to thrive, it's essential to have safe adults and supportive systems in place. At St. Helens Middle School, we prioritize collaborative leadership and professional learning. Our learning and collaboration are centered around students, and our team structure allows us to be hyper-focused on student needs. Our teams of caring educators do everything from curating the daily student experience to leading professional development. Our school has dedicated itself to learning, designing, and implementing multi-tiered systems of support for students both academically and behaviorally. The systems of intervention we have created are becoming dynamic and adaptable, and we are dedicated to improving how we serve students each day.

I’m honored to be recognized as Middle School Principal of the Year for my service to the St. Helens Middle School Community.

Thank you to all the teachers and staff who elevate our students and support our middle school vision.

Thank you to COSA for creating this opportunity for educators to be recognized for their leadership and for selecting me for this honor."

Cris Gwilliam

2024 Oregon School Principal of the Year