Ridgeview’s Loving named Oregon HS Principal of the Year

Ridgeview High School Principal Lee Loving has been named the 2019 Oregon High School Principal of the Year by the Oregon Association of Secondary School Administrators and the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators.

“Lee Loving’s dedication to community and students’ social emotional well-being and academic success has continuously inspired colleagues statewide,” said Lincoln High School Principal and OASSA President Peyton Chapman. “He is one of the most collegial and committed school leaders, known across the state by his peers as an ‘Education Hero.’ Lee’s positive approach, and his unending belief in his students and staff, makes others believe in the possibilities that grow in our public schools every day.”

Loving has served as the principal at Ridgeview High School since its inception in 2012 and served as planning principal before it opened. During this time, he was also principal of Redmond High School, which was operating at maximum capacity at the time.

“Lee Loving believes that positive, supportive relationships are the foundation of student success,” wrote Assistant Principals Jensine Peterson and Kelly Hicks in their nomination of Loving. “He is powerfully driven by his desire to eradicate opportunity gaps, expectation gaps, and, ultimately, achievement gaps for all students and demographic groups.”

According to Peterson and Hicks, Loving has built long-lasting partnerships that serve to expand opportunities for his students, including with the city of Redmond and the Redmond Economic Development Inc. to place students in internships.

Loving has also forged relationships with Central Oregon Community College, Southern Oregon University and other regional institutions to provide students with early college courses and has partnered with five robust career and technical education programs.

“Lee loving is an amazing ‘people person’ and relationships matter,” Superintendent Mike McIntosh said. “The Ridgeview High School community is the beneficiary of his enthusiasm and dedication in making Ridgeview an incredible place to learn. The school feels like a huge family that takes pride in both individual and schoolwide accomplishments.”

Loving was notified of the award on Thursday during a surprise all-student assembly at Ridgeview. Loving’s family, Redmond Schools Superintendent Mike McIntosh and Craig Hawkins, COSA’s executive director, also were in attendance.

Loving will receive honors at the 2019 COSA Annual Conference in Seaside in June and at the National Association for Secondary School Principals Conference in Boston in July. He will receive additional honors at the High School Principals Conference in Bend in October.