Director

Linda Jessell's extensive professional background includes 33 years serving in numerous leadership positions. Her work in the Beaverton School District as a teacher, staff developer, and administrator focused on teacher professional development, and curricular and instructional improvement. In her work as the principal of Gresham High School, the director of secondary programs, and K-12 curriculum director in the Gresham-Barlow School District, she continued to emphasize student learning and achievement, and teacher and administrator professional growth.

Ms. Jessell's current work includes teaching in the Portland State University Graduate School of Education Statewide, her work with schools and districts has focused on curriculum renewal and proficiency-based credits.

Associate Director

Jim Carlile, MS, has served in many leadership roles in the Portland metropolitan area for the past 30 years, including high school principalships at Sunset, Tigard, Jefferson, and Sherwood Schools. He was an assistant superintendent for instruction and later superintendent in the Gresham-Barlow Schools, director of school improvement in Beaverton, and adjunct professor on a full- and part-time basis at Portland State University with an emphasis in curriculum leadership and administrative licensure.

Mr. Carlile has worked with over 70 school districts in Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Hawaii, in training school leadership teams to drive student achievement.