MISSION Rhonda Smith, a counselor at Washington Elementary School for the last six years, has been hired as the new principal for Nixyaawii Community School on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

The Nixyaawii School Board approved the recommendation of an interview committee that included parents of two Nixyaawii students, a teacher, two school board members and a representative from Pendleton School District 16R. (Nixyaawii is a public charter school sponsored by the Pendleton School District.) Ten people applied to replace Tim Sprenger, who resigned in June to take the principal position at Central Middle School in Milton-Freewater. The list of applicants was trimmed to three who were interviewed. There were no American Indian applicants who met the state administrative requirements.

Smith, who earned her bachelors degree in education at Eastern Oregon University, has worked 19 years in the Pendleton School District, getting her first job as a sixth grade teacher at McKay Creek Elementary School. When sixth grade classes moved to Sunridge Middle School, Smith moved, too. She returned to McKay for seven years as a fifth grade teacher and has worked the last six years as the Child Development Specialist at Washington.

What stands out the most to me was her experience working with Native American students and her knowledge of the CTUIR, said Teara Farrow-Ferman, whose son, Tiya-po, attends Nixyaawii.

Washington is located on the east side of Pendleton near the reservation boundary, and had more than 160 American Indian students this year.

Farrow-Ferman said also was impressed with Smiths experience working with CTUIR and Umatilla County service providers.

She knows where to go and who to talk with when there is a need for a tribal student, Farrow-Ferman said.

Julie Taylor, who temporarily represents the CTUIR Board of Trustees on the School Board, agreed with Farrow-Ferman.

I think she will do an incredible job with her experience working in her current position and most importantly she has a great relationship with our native students today, and is aware of the CTUIR resources as well as those in the community of Pendleton to provide services for our school, Taylor said.

School starts Aug. 27 at Nixyaawii, three weeks before the?Pendleton School District.