Her Story
About Stefanie
I knew from elementary school that I wanted to be a teacher, and once I had been in teaching for a while, I found myself being a climber. I was approached about going into leadership, and I had been thinking about it myself since I had always taken on committee chairmanships and different roles within the schools I was in. On the third day of my administrative degree class, someone tapped me on the shoulder and said I needed to interview in Culver School District for an elementary principal opening. I thought I was just going in for great interview experience since I didn't have the degree yet, but two and a half hours later, they loved what they saw and I was hired with an emergency administrator license. It was really baptism by fire, and I learned the value of networking and mentors. I was a happy elementary school principal for 8 years, and then the school board asked me to also be the district superintendent for a year because they didn't have time to hire another superintendent. At first I said no, but after prayer and consideration, I felt compelled to do it. For 13 years, I did both roles as elementary principal and superintendent in our small rural school district of about 620 kids K-12 on one campus. COVID didn't nearly kill me, but doing both jobs during COVID nearly killed me, so we split the roles and I became a half-time superintendent for the last 4 years. I have been serving the same school district for 25 years, which is really rare in Oregon where the average superintendent stays only 3 to 5 years. This place is truly family. I have a servant leader mentality - it's not about the title, and I couldn't wait to get to work every day. I am most proud of enabling growth for our small rural school district through partnerships with neighboring colleges, bringing different programs like a STEM program where the university and I wrote grants and had three quarters of a million dollars to build a program in 6 months. I have brought the district over $14 million in extra funding throughout my career, including grants for remodeling our gym and general obligation bonds from taxpayers to build additions to our buildings. I also love connecting families and community partners because it really does take a village to raise children.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Stefanie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to what I call obstinate faith. You have to have obstinate faith to get in the ring every day when you don't know what the challenges are going to be each year, but you just have that obstinate faith that there's a way, whatever it takes. I also learned the value of networking and mentors early in my career when I was thrown into leadership with baptism by fire. I have a servant leader mentality - it's not about the title or anything like that. I approach everything with the mindset of 'we're going to do this together, and I'll be the strength, and you guys are going to work, we're gonna be a team when we do this.' That obstinate faith really lets you succeed in times where maybe people would say that's not possible, or you shouldn't do that. It calls you to a higher expectation of going above and beyond. If I was going to live out that 'whatever it takes' as the top leader of the district, then I couldn't let a student waste away under my watch.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to young women, do not be intimidated by crossing barriers. If you have a passion, but it's something that maybe females aren't as prominent in, don't let that barrier stop you. In Oregon, only 20% of school superintendents are women, and it's a very dude-heavy shop. For many years, it was just me and the boys at our regional superintendent meetings. Often, it's the female outlook on things that can take an institution to the next level. So number one, don't let barriers stop you. If it's your passion, and it's your dream, and you feel like it's a calling, then go for it. Don't stay in a job you hate. My husband, when he was alive, would say, oh my gosh, you can't wait to get to work every day. And I said, I know! I said, it's because my passion and my paid job are all in one. If you can find something that combines your passion and employment together, you're gonna love it. You're gonna be blessed every day and can't wait to get to work.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In Oregon education, it's just gotten every year less resources, and you're supposed to do more with it. That's been the reality, mostly in the last 10 years. You have to have obstinate faith to face these challenges, because you have to get in the ring every day not knowing what the challenges are going to be each year. But you just have that obstinate faith that there's a way, you know, whatever it takes. The key is being able to do more with less while still serving students and families effectively.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is first and foremost. I also live by what I call being humble, hungry, and smart. I want to be humble and always be in touch with why I'm doing the work, and who I'm doing it for. I'm not perfect, and I can always learn. Hungry means I've learned that I am a climber - I can't settle for mediocrity in anything. If somebody's leading something and they're mediocre, I'm like, let me have it. I'm hungry for growth, personally and professionally. And then just be smart - always learning, always adapting, always aware of who I'm serving. My faith is another value that's very important to me. I call myself a holy roller Christian - you're not around me too much before you observe that I have a very strong faith. Anything family is always priority. I was raised in a family where family's first, a big family, and so anything family is always priority for me.
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