Meet Supt. Sue Rieke-Smith

Dr. Sue Rieke-Smith became Tigard-Tualatin School District Superintendent on July 1, 2018. An experienced educational leader, Dr. Rieke-Smith has work at all three school levels.

She began her career in 2000 in the Salem-Keizer School District where she taught 5th grade, English language learners and Title 1. Between 2004 and 2007, she served as Curriculum Assistant Principal at McKay High School, and in 2007, she became principal of Houck Middle School. At Houck, she was recognized as Oregon’s 2011 Middle School Principal of the Year.   From 2011 to 2014, she served as Salem-Keizer’s Director of Instructional Services.

She joined Springfield Public Schools as Assistant Superintendent in July 2014. In April 2015, she was named Interim Superintendent and was permanently appointed to lead the district in November 2015.

Education is a second career for Dr. Rieke-Smith. After nearly a decade as a nurse, she went back to school to earn her Masters of Arts Teaching in 2000 from George Fox University. She earned her Ed.D. in Education Policy and Research from the University of Oregon in 2015.

“I am an educator because I believe in the life changing power of an education,” she said. “I believe all students have the capacity to learn and deserve to develop their talents and achieve their dreams through rigorous and engaging instruction.

Since joining TTSD, Dr. Rieke-Smith says she has “found Tigard-Tualatin to be a great school district, full of people who are committed to making a positive difference for children.”

“I am looking forward to our work together to make our district even better,” she said.