Braman-Smith finalist for principal job in Bend

Sarah Braman-Smith, whose ouster as Madras High principal has sparked controversy in Jefferson County, is one of five finalists for the Sky View Middle School principal’s position in Bend, officials said Monday.

The Jefferson County 509-J SD board last week reaffirmed its decision to move Braman-Smith from her Madras principal’s role, saying they wanted to move her to lead the new Warm Springs K-8 Academy.

Here’s the Bend-La Pine district’s announcement:

Community members are invited to meet the five finalists for the principal position at Sky View Middle School on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the library at Sky View. Visitors will get a chance to meet the candidates, ask questions and offer feedback.

The five finalists are as follows:

Braman-Smith is currently the principal at Madras High School, a position she has served in for four years. Prior to that she served as assistant principal at Madras High School for five years. Braman-Smith also has eight years of teaching experience.

Brian Crook is currently an assistant principal at Bend Senior High School, a position he has served in for seven years. Prior to that, Crook served as a teacher for 20 years, including time at Bend Senior High School, Pilot Butte Middle School, and in Redmond School District and Portland Public Schools.

Damian Crowson is currently the principal at Lincoln Savage Middle School in Three Rivers School District in southern Oregon, a position he has served in for four years. Crowson is also the administrator for district’s alternative programs. He has eight years of additional administrative experience. Crowson also has seven years of teaching experience.

Scott Olszewski is currently the assistant principal at Mountain View High School, a position he has served in for three years. Prior to that, Olszewski was the dean of students at Pilot Butte Middle School in Bend for four years. He also has six years of classroom teaching experience.

Brian Uballez is currently the assistant principal at Sky View Middle School, a position he has served in for eight years. Prior to that, he was the assistant principal at High Desert Middle School in Bend. Uballez also has six years of teaching experience.

The new principal will begin July 1; current Principal Scott Edmondson is becoming the principal at RE Jewell Elementary School.