In The News: Newberg High School gets a new principal

Written by: Gary Allen, Newberg Graphic 

Newberg schools — Kyle Laier will assume the post next fall after a long search

Newberg High School students will see new leadership when they appear for classes next fall.

The school district announced last week that Kyle Laier will become the principal of the town’s only public high school in September. Laier will replace Dave Parker, who has served as interim principal since the sudden announcement last year by Mark Risen that he would resign as principal for health reasons.

Laier will transition to 1,400-student NHS from his position at Clackamas Academy of Industrial Sciences (CAIS), “a career-focused high school in Oregon City,” according to a release from the Newberg School District.

“Our students deserve a spectacular leader and I believe they are getting one,” said Newberg superintendent Kym LeBlanc-Esparza. “(Laier) is a visionary leader with a very strong record of collaboration and building robust, authentic learning experiences for kids. I am excited to see what he will bring to Newberg High School.”

Laier holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from the University of Portland. He began his teaching career at Desert Hot Springs High School in California and returned to Oregon to teach social studies at Ogden Middle School in Oregon City. He served in a variety of leadership roles in the Oregon City School District, eventually rising to the level of principal of King Elementary School and CAIS.

At CAIS, according to the release, Laier developed an instructional program and intervention process to support students, increase enrollment, raise funds and develop partnerships to put the school on track to become a regional center for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) initiatives that would serve the needs of industry.

“He brings an incredible background in career and technical education, which aligns with work we are starting,” Parker said. “We are tremendously excited to have (Laier) as the new high school principal.”