Pendleton School District has completed the hiring process for several building-level administrator openings and made the following selections.

Piper Kelm has been selected as the new building principal at Sunridge Middle School. Mrs. Kelm is currently a PSD employee and serves as the Assistant Principal at Sherwood Elementary School. She has been at Sherwood for the past three years, where she also served as the Dean of Students. She started her career at Pendleton High School as a science teacher and taught there for 28 years. Her colleagues have described her as “organized,” “calm,” and a “lifelong learner who truly cares about all kids.”

Kelm will replace current SMS Principal Dave Williams who resigned effective June 30th to take a position with IMESD.

Coree Terjeson has been selected as the new building principal at Washington Elementary School. Mrs. Terjeson is currently a PSD employee and serves as the Assistant Principal at Washington Elementary, where she is completing her first year in this position. Before being at Washington, she was a Dean of Students, Special Education Teacher and Intervention Specialist for the Hermiston School District. Her teaching career started in the Pendleton School District in 2010 as a Special Education Teacher. One colleague described Coree as “hard-working…and always making decisions based on what’s best for students”.

Terjeson will replace current Washington Principal JP Richards, who resigned effective June 30th to take a position closer to family.

Heidi Paullus has been selected as the new Assistant Principal at Washington Elementary School. Mrs. Paullus is currently working for the InterMountain ESD as the Virtual Online Academy Principal. For nine years prior, she worked as an instructional coach for IMESD. Heidi taught 6th grade at Sunridge Middle School for three years, 4th grade for five years in the Hermiston School District and 4th grade for eight years in the Jefferson County School District. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge that will greatly benefit the students and staff at Washington Elementary School. She has been described as “a gifted instructional leader…able to implement systems and leverage data to improve instruction”.

Paullus will replace Coree Terjeson, who was selected as the new Principal at Washington Elementary School.

TJ Presley has been selected as the new Assistant Principal at Sherwood Elementary School. Mr. Presley currently is the 6-12 principal and athletic director in the Pilot Rock School District. Mr. Presley began his teaching career in the Pilot Rock School District as a middle level math teacher. TJ has been described by his colleagues as “a positive, detail person…who makes relationships with students and adults very quickly”.

Presley will replace Piper Kelm, who was selected as the principal at Sunridge Middle School.

We appreciate the support of all who took part in this process. The PSD School Board will take official action to approve these hires during a special board meeting on Thursday, May 19th.