New Director of Teaching and Learning Stands Out as an Experienced Professional and Returning Employee

By Jillian Daley

North Marion School District Superintendent Ginger Redlinger announced on June 22 that the district has hired a Director of Teaching and Learning who has 20 years of experience and a passion for equity.

Desiree Kiesel, who’s been the principal of the Woodburn Arts and Communications Academy for nearly five years, possesses a wealth of ideal experience, including her work at the Oregon Department of Education as an English Language Arts Specialist. She devoted many years to the Woodburn School District as a principal, Teaching and Learning Facilitator, and Teacher/Coach. 

“We are so pleased to have recruited an educational professional with her depth of experience in the field of Teaching and Learning at the state level and at Woodburn,” Redlinger said. “We are also glad to have someone who has worked here previously with close ties to our community.”

At North Marion, she’s been the vice principal of the Middle School and the Director of Teaching and Learning for Secondary Schools, a similar role to the one she will now fill. Kiesel says that she is glad to be back.

“I am super excited,” she says. “Being back on campus the other day was like coming home. Things have changed a lot since I’ve been gone, but it was really inspiring to see the things that haven’t changed: the kindness of the community and the focus on relationships.”

In her new role at North Marion, Kiesel will cover the typical topics in a Teaching and Learning leadership position involving curriculum and pedagogy. Her primary responsibility will be implementation of our new Strategic Plan this fall, guiding school principals in their work as instructional leaders as principals work with their staff.

She is proud to say that her children attend here (Grades 7 and 11) because of the School District’s prioritization of equity, both in its Strategic Plan and its ongoing efforts to improve equity: the hiring of an Equity and Inclusion Director, bilingual secretaries, and family liaisons.

When it comes to equity, Kiesel says that it is important that this small district possesses the same resources as larger ones. 

“When we acknowledge and support the diversity in our community, then everyone benefits,” she says.

She believes that each and every student should have access to all that they need in the classroom and that a School District’s systems should support that standard of fairness because it’s healthy for everyone.

“My first goal is, How are we leveraging the amazing leaders that we have at North Marion to help that Strategic Plan vision come to reality?” she says, “and from there, it’s really about looking at the systemic structures in place, which are supporting our vision and which need additional changes to make them more successful." 

Kiesel holds not only the experience to be a leader among leaders, she also has an impressive set of advanced degrees. The Woodburn High School graduate has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and Literature from Pacific University, Master of Arts in Teaching and Initial Administrative License from Willamette University, and Professional Administrative License from Lewis & Clark College.

In addition to her degrees and many years of experience, she’s also been honored with a Crystal Apple Award from the Woodburn Chamber of Commerce. Plus, her family’s not only a member of the community, she knows the area well, having grown up in Woodburn.

“Right now, I’m just really excited to be coming back and to work in a community that holds a special place in my heart because we’re members of it,” she says. 

To share stories on the North Marion School District, email Communications Specialist Jillian Daley at jillian.daley@nmarion.k12.or.us.