Eugene School District 4J

Dr. Miriam Mickelson, 4J's new superintendent, welcomed back 4J's educators with a speech both powerful and personal during the annual staff back-to-school event held on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at South Eugene High School.

Dr. Mickelson, hailing the power of educators to transform students’ lives, shared how the kind and influential words of her fourth-grade teacher helped carry her from an impoverished upbringing in the Philippines. [Watch Dr. Mickelson's full speech at this link]

“We transform lives not only because we teach academics but also, and perhaps more importantly, because we plant seeds of hope, courage, confidence, belonging, inclusion, and possibility that help our students believe in themselves,” she said in her first extended remarks to staff members since she started as the district's chief executive on July 1. 

Employees also heard welcome-back messages from school board chair Tom Di Liberto; Sabrina Gordon, president of the Eugene Education Association (licensed staff union); Lisa Jenkins-Easton, president of OSEA Eugene Chapter 1, (classified staff union); and Scott Mayers, co-president of MAPS, the employee group representing district administrators and supervisors. In addition, Laura Brown, executive director of the Eugene Education Foundation, presented 4J with a check for $200,166, representing the 67 educator grants for projects and programs that will benefit 4J students this year.

Learn More

4J’s New Superintendent: Dr. Miriam Mickelson
Back-to-School Checklist