At the May 1, 2023 special board meeting, the Tillamook School District Board of Directors announced that Matthew Ellis has been selected as the new superintendent of Tillamook School District. He will assume his position on July 1. Ellis commented, “I am excited about the opportunity to be a part of the Tillamook School District. When my wife and I became aware of the superintendent opening in Tillamook, we did not hesitate to apply for the position. We believe in the Tillamook School Board’s mission of insisting that every student have the academic, artistic, and social skills necessary to become positive contributors in a changing world.”
Mr. Ellis has most recently served as the superintendent of Prosser School District in Prosser, Washington. Throughout his career he has also served as the superintendent for Lind-Ritzville Cooperative Schools in Washington State, a high school principal and assistant principal, and a high school teacher. His father was also a teacher and administrator who started his career teaching in Creswell, Oregon.
Mr. Ellis’ resume and cover letter
The selection of Ellis comes after an extensive search conducted in collaboration with the Tillamook Board of Directors and Human Capital Enterprises. Human Capital held over a dozen stakeholder focus groups in addition to 1:1 meetings with Board Members to identify the necessary
characteristics in the next superintendent. Ten of 16 applicants had preliminary interviews for Board review which resulted in six having virtual interviews with the Board. From there, two candidates were selected to participate in community/staff/student interviews, administrator listening sessions, and ultimately, a final interview with the Board. “After a very long and thorough selection process, I’m extremely pleased that we have found what I believe to be a solid, proven leader in Matt Ellis. He has very clearly demonstrated his unconditional support and compassion for ALL students and is fully committed to guiding TSD9 students and staff into reaching their top potential,” board Vice Chair Jesse Werner shared.
When asked about his educational philosophy Ellis said, “I believe that every child deserves the finest teaching possible. I know that the teachers and administrators of Tillamook have been hard at work making that a reality for every child, every day.” Board Chair Matt Petty followed up by saying, “I am excited that we have Matt joining TSD9. His past experiences – proven leadership and commitment to education for all students – showed me that he was the right person for the job. There is no doubt that our leadership will flourish under Matt’s guidance, and in return, our children will have a more enriching education.”
We are excited to welcome Matt Ellis to the Cheesemaker community. Ellis shared a similar perspective, “We are not only excited about making the move, but we are also excited about making new friends.”