Dilley Elementary School will get a new principal, the Forest Grove School District announced in a press release.
John Allen, a Hillsboro School District principal and teacher, is no stranger to rural schools, having served as principal at HSD’s West Union Elementary School at the edge of Hillsboro and the unincorporated community of Helvetia since 2013.
Before that, Allen taught for eight years in the Hillsboro School District.
“I am excited to become a part of the Forest Grove School District at Dilley Elementary,” Allen said. “I look forward to our journey together building relationships, promoting academic excellence, and fostering an environment where all learners experience success.”
The position at Dilley opened after a reshuffling of principals in the district. Pete Moshinsky, formally the principal of Harvey Clarke Elementary, left the district earlier this year for a position with the St. Helens School District.
To fill that position, Troy Fisher, Joseph Gale Elementary’s principal, stepped in, and current Dilley principal, Mariela Mireles stepped into the Joseph Gale role.
Allen holds a Bachelor of Science degree and Masters of Arts degree from Portland State University, according to the district.
“The district is excited to welcome Mr. Allen as part of the team and wishes him well as he begins the next chapter of his career here in Forest Grove,” the district’s statement read of Allen, who will be working largely in the unincorporated community of Dilley where many Gales Creek students now attend classes following the district’s closure of Gales Creek Elementary School in 2011.
Chas Hundley is the editor of the Gales Creek Journal and sister news publications the Banks Post and the Salmonberry Magazine. He grew up in Gales Creek and has a cat.