North Clackamas Superintendent To Retire In June 2020

By Elizabeth Miller (OPB)
Portland, Ore. Oct. 24, 2019 1:45 p.m.

After seven years leading North Clackamas Schools, district superintendent Matt Utterback is retiring at the end of the year.

He announced the news to students, staff, and families in a video.

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Clackamas Superintendent Matt Utterback

Clackamas Superintendent Matt Utterback

Rob Manning / OPB

“From starting out as a 21-year old middle school science teacher to serving as superintendent, I am tremendously grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given,” Utterback said in the video.

Utterback has spent his entire 31-year career in the North Clackamas School District. In addition to teaching, Utterback served as a middle school principal, a director of secondary programs, assistant superintendent and a high school principal before becoming superintendent.

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OPB followed Utterback during his last year as principal at Clackamas High School, as part of a series on the effects of state budget cuts, called "Learning With Less."

In 2017, Utterback was named the National Superintendent of the Year. During his tenure, he prioritized equity.

"I don't think there's anything more important in our work than to honor a student's history, their culture, their identity, and affirm who they are in our public school systems," Utterback said in a video for the School Superintendents Association.

Between 2011 and 2018, North Clackamas’ graduation rate jumped 19 percentage points, to 85%.

Getting all students to graduate high school is one part of a district goal for student success. Other goals include equity, quality and stewardship.

According to data from the recently released At-A-Glance profiles, individual student progress for all student groups is rated either average or high. Under Utterback, the district says achievement gaps between student groups have narrowed and, in some cases, closed.

The North Clackamas school board is finalizing the search process for Utterback’s replacement. Once it is complete, that plan will be presented to the public.

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