Superintendent

School Board Chair Deb Bridges said that she is elated to have such an experienced leader for the next two school years, especially one who worked as the Newberg-Dundee Assistant Superintendent for six years: “Dave’s experience as a Superintendent in Forest Grove and as Assistant Superintendent here in Newberg will serve the district well. He brings with him a familiarity of Newberg and has retained many relationships within the school community. Dave will work collaboratively to stabilize and rebuild what was lost as a result of the budget crisis and bring a positive perspective to the long road ahead.”

Parker said he is honored at the appointment, and he is also ready to lead. 

“We have many challenges in front of us, but I am excited to work with this staff, students, and the community,” said Parker, who was Forest Grove’s Superintendent for six years. “I am eager to reconnect with colleagues, and dive into the critical work of establishing a financially sustainable School District. I bring a wealth of experience in Oregon K-12 education, successfully navigating challenges all districts faced over the past four years. At Forest Grove, we prioritized financial stability, maintained or lowered class sizes, and invested in teacher training and resources. Despite the impending reduction of federal funds, we carefully planned and built a substantial ending fund balance to minimize the impact on students and staff.”

Under his leadership, Forest Grove also stewarded a $129 million bond. In addition to his leadership and financial knowledge, his 34-year career has included roles as a science teacher, assistant principal, principal, and executive director of secondary education. However, while Parker has strong experience, he said his first goal is to listen.

“While I have been following what has happened over the last couple of years, I have not been here in the middle of it,” he said. “I will take some time to listen to staff, students, and parents about their experiences. These problems are complex, and there are no easy answers. However, if we begin to listen and center our decisions on students, we can work our way through these challenges. Your voices matter, and I am committed to ensuring they are heard."