Kourtney K. Ferrua

Wascher Elementary School
McMinnville School District
Lafayette, Oregon
kferrua@msd.k12.or.us

With principal Kourtney K. Ferrua’s leadership, Wascher Elementary School has experienced phenomenal growth over the last five years. Propelled by “the relentless belief that every child has an unlimited capacity to learn,” Ferrua has helped lead her rural school from underperformance to consistent results above state average growth, ranking in the top 10 percent in reading and math and the top performing Title I school in the state. Ferrua cites implementation of the Rigorous Curriculum Design program as one of the school’s key successful strategic changes. This program creates a collaborative instruction framework and ensures that teachers are able to carefully monitor student progress and intervene to promote student learning. Smart use of data and constant opportunities for professional development have also helped propel Wascher Elementary to the highest levels of growth in the state of Oregon. With a majority of students experiencing poverty, Ferrua has sought to create a culture where students feel empowered to believe in themselves, helping them overcome the obstacles of adverse experiences. Firmly believing that parent partnerships enrich student’s educational experience, Ferrua has worked diligently to address barriers such as language and parent involvement in the school. Colleagues and supervisors describe Ferrua as a beloved and tireless leader who constantly works to advocate for her students. Ferrua holds a Professional Administrative License from Concordia University of Chicago, an Initial Administrative License from Portland State University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Portland, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of San Francisco.