Superintendent's Office

The superintendent provides leadership for the district and is ultimately responsible for all areas of the district’s operation. The superintendent provides executive leadership and administrative direction for all departments, services and programs, and is responsible for proposing and implementing long-range plans.

Dr. Mickelson has served as the superintendent of Eugene School District 4J since July 1, 2025.

From the Superintendent 

Dear 4J Community,

Welcome back, everyone, to a new school year!

As I have visited our schools these first days, I'm filled with the usual jolt of energy from seeing the excitement of returning students and the warmth and attention of our staff. When we are consumed with the "big questions" of public education, seeing our students reminds us why the work matters deeply.

I'm very aware as we start the year that this is a challenging time in 4J, as we process the loss of valued colleagues and programs, in the wake of budget cuts. We also know that change will be our norm, as we continue this year and next to stabilize our budget and align our offerings to our resources. But in the uncertainty of change or the heaviness of loss, our focus on the mission of educating and supporting students, and caring for one another, unites us.

Togetherness, all being responsible to one another and shaping the world we inhabit, is the essence of Kapwa, a word that is central to my Filipino heritage, and to me as a person and a leader. 

It is often translated as fellow human being, but its meaning actually runs far deeper. Kapwa means a recognition of shared humanity — seeing yourself in others, and seeing others as an extension of yourself because your humanity and their humanity are entirely intertwined. Kapwa shows up in acts of compassion, kindness, generosity, of community, and support. 

Every time educators show up for a child, every time our schools become the safest place for any of our students on any given day, that is Kapwa. That is shared humanity. That is why our bus drivers know the names of the students who ride their buses and what their interests are. That is why our nutrition services staff take such an immense pride in feeding our students well. That is why so many staff attend extracurricular activities, concerts, plays, performances and sporting events to cheer and to support students. Because, as educators we do not just see our students merely as students: we see them as human beings first and foremost, their humanity intertwined with ours. We see our students as an extension of ourselves, and that is why I am convinced we do the work that we do with so much heart and so much passion. 

In 2026-27, one of my guiding questions as superintendent is this: in the face of budgetary pressures, limited staffing and reduced resources, how do we do the work that we need to do on behalf of our students, work that is so dependent on human connection? I believe that the answer is this: we do it together in community, in shared humanity. We take an incremental approach to the work, celebrating small wins along the way, and we clarify our focus. 

If we are to clarify our focus, then what is it? The focus is work in the school and classroom that is proven to bring achievement results for our students: attendance, learning, graduation. Our learning goals emphasize literacy because that is the basis of everything we do and is one of the clearest indicators for compounding success. Culture and belonging is a foundational pillar of our work, along with community engagement and fiscal sustainability because we cannot do this work alone and we need reliable, stable resources to provide consistency and excellence for our students. We will carry out these priorities for all of our students. Every student attends. Every student learns. Every student graduates. That is “Focus 4J.”

Every school and department, every person, plays a critical role. I am confident that despite our past and present challenges that we will thrive, by investing in our shared calling to support students, and by leaning into one another. 4J has always been strong and resilient and tight-knit as a community. When we lift each other up in community, in shared humanity, we create the stability that our students need from all of us. I hope you all have a wonderful start to the year.

— Dr. Miriam Mickelson
 

Learn more about Dr. Miriam Mickelson