Announcement to Toledo Parents, Students, Staff and Community

Dear Toledo Community,

As you may know, long time principal of Toledo Jr Sr High School, Clint Raever, is leaving us. Yamhill Carlton SD has hired Mr. Raever to be their next high school principal. Clint has dedicated his career to Lincoln County SD and Toledo and its children, families, and staff. We will miss him very much and wish him very good luck.

So what comes next?

After much thought, mindful deliberations and deep consideration, I have made the decision to not go outside of Lincoln County SD for Mr. Raever’s replacement. Toledo needs a principal who knows our district and relates well to our children and community. I don’t want to hire someone who sees the school as a stepping stone to another position in a bigger district so they come and go. It needs to be someone who knows our district’s priorities and can hit the ground running at full speed. For me, there is no one else but current LCSD Assistant Principal Richard Ceder for this position. He is the number one choice of our learning support team and having someone already in our ranks as an administrator was a priority for our leadership team. He is steeped in the work we are doing in our school district and knows high schools inside and out. He is super friendly and approachable. The kids are going to love him!

Richard has been assistant principal at Taft 7-12 for the last two years. Prior to that, he was Managing Coordinator for 16 school districts for Oregon GEAR UP, including Lincoln County SD, for two years. His experience as a counselor in Gaston, Oregon for ten years is also an incentive when hiring an administrator. He grew up in the City of Rogue River and has lived his life in small communities. Mr. Ceder fishes, hunts and is an outdoorsman. He is an educator who loves children and had expressed his interest in Toledo even prior to being hired at Taft 7-12.

This year, my first year as your superintendent, I watched Richard closely as he stepped up and up as assistant principal with Nick Lupo at Taft. He was the only assistant principal when there was supposed to be two. He never wavered and never got tired. He is a trained counselor and loves kids while also having super high educational standards and rigorous expectations. Mr. Ceder worked closely with Mr. Rothenberger as assistants at Taft 7-12 so they will not be an administrative team spending a year getting to know each other while learning more about the staff, students, and community. They are already a team and together, will make Toledo Jr Sr High School even better.

On Friday, May 31, Richard Ceder is having a meet and greet with staff after school from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm and then a meet and greet event at the school from 5 pm to 6:30 pm to meet parents and community. He wants to hear your concerns, your hopes, and your expectations. Staff, please come to the staff meeting and tell Richard what you want to see as next steps for Toledo Jr Sr High. Parents, students, and community members, please come to the community meeting and meet your new principal. He wants to hear from you. Richard will spend significant time at Toledo Jr Sr HS the first 2 weeks of June training and getting used to the school.

Please welcome him to our school and to the Boomer Community!

GO, Boomers!!

Dr. Karen Gray, Superintendent of Lincoln County School District