Tigard-Tualatin School District

Meet Supt. Sue Rieke-Smith

For over two decades, Dr. Sue Rieke-Smith has served as a champion for public schools and education. She joined the Tigard-Tualatin School District (TTSD) in July 2018. She oversees the daily operations and overall delivery of PreK-12 academic services to nearly 12,000 students and 1800 staff. TTSD includes 11 elementary schools, three middle schools, three high school programs, a virtual academy, and an early learning center. 

Dr. Rieke-Smith’s career began with the Salem-Keizer School District, teaching 5^th grade ESOL in two Title I elementary schools.  In 2004, she was recruited to serve as the Curriculum Assistant Principal at McKay High School, providing leadership in school improvement through a federal Small Schools grant and a state Comprehensive School Reform grant process.  In 2007, she accepted the principalship at Houck Middle School and collaboratively led the school through a federal No Child Left Behind restructuring process.  

The Coalition of Oregon School Administrators recognized Dr. Rieke-Smith as Oregon’s 2011 Middle School Principal of the Year. She credits the Houck staff for their intentional focus on effective instruction and achievement for all students.  In 2011, she accepted a Cabinet position as Director of Instructional Services.  In this role, she collaboratively led staff to provide curriculum, instruction, assessment, library media services, language translation services, and federal Title grant support to 67 schools.  

Dr. Rieke-Smith joined the Springfield School District as the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction in July 2014. She served as Interim Superintendent from April 2015 to November 2015 when she was named as the permanent superintendent, serving from 2015 to June 2018. 

In 2019, she was appointed by Governor Kate Brown to the Oregon Educators Benefits Board and in 2021 joined the AASA National School Superintendent’s Association’s Governing Board. In 2022 she was appointed to the Governor’s Educator Advancement Council. Dr. Rieke-Smith is the President of the COSA Oregon Association of School Executives representing Oregon school superintendents for the 2023-24 school year.  She also serves on both the Tigard and Tualatin Chamber of Commerce Boards.

“I am an educator because I believe in the life-changing power of education,” she said. “I believe all students have the capacity to learn and deserve to develop their talents and achieve their dreams through rigorous and engaging instruction.”