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EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Bethel School District's superintendent is leaving his position to serve as the state's first education innovation officer.
Colt Gill was recruited by Gov. Kate Brown to fill the new innovation position, in which he will work to increase the number of students completing high school, The Register-Guard reported (http://bit.ly/1rFnxcb ).
"I want all Oregon students to complete high school and be ready for college, post-secondary training or a job," Brown said in her announcement Thursday. "Colt's experience in the classroom, in the community and as an administrator give him the perspective and vision to help us improve our dismal graduation rate."
Brown said Gill has improved graduation rates both overall and particularly among underserved students. She said graduation rates for black students in the Bethel district are 9 percent higher than state averages, 16 percent higher for American Indian students and 7 percent higher for Latino students.
Overall, Bethel high school had a 4 percentage point increase in student graduation between 2014 and 2015, with 74.4 percent of Bethel high school students graduating within four years in 2014-15 and 70.4 percent the previous school year.
Gill has been at the helm of the west Eugene district for nearly 10 years. He will take his position with the state on June 1, but said he will continue working with the district through most of June to finish up budget work, evaluations and other loose ends.
He said he will miss the students in the Bethel district, though he is excited to learn from other districts and other states. He will be attending this year's graduation at Willamette High School, where he taught.
"Watching them cross that line to get their diploma — that's a moment I'll miss," he said. "This will be my last chance to do that in probably a very long time, and I will cherish every one of those handshakes."
Deputy Superintendent Chris Parra has been appointed interim superintendent.
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Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com
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