A huge congratulations to the Superintendent of La Grande School District, George Mendoza. George has been named the 2026 Superintendent of the Year in Oregon!

From the La Grande website: “George Mendoza is a leader for ALL - the students in his district, the staff that serve those students, and the community as a whole,” shared COSA Executive Director, Dr. Krista Parent. “George is a trusted and highly respected colleague for leaders across the state. It is an honor for George to be named COSA's 2026 Oregon Superintendent of the Year.”Since becoming superintendent in 2017, Mendoza has transformed La Grande into a district recognized statewide for innovation, equity, and excellence. Under his leadership, the district has:● Achieved a 98% completion rate for the Class of 2025,● Boosted graduation rates for students with disabilities from 48% in 2019 to 83% in 2025,● Launched the Tiger Homes program, enabling students to build and sell homes to support the local workforce,● Completed the new Wildcat Center, a $12M facility housing three gyms and six classrooms● Expanded mental health and social-emotional supports through the district’s “Culture of Care,” and● Established a direct enrollment partnership with Eastern Oregon University, eliminating college access barriers for students.Mendoza, a first-generation immigrant and native Spanish speaker, is known for his commitment to removing barriers and building opportunities for all students. He is active in both state and local leadership, serving on the Oregon State School Board, Eastern Oregon University Board of Trustees, OSAA Executive Board, and PACE Board of Trustees, among others.Join us LIVE on the #ELB podcast Wednesday night, 2/4 at 7:45 pm EST/4:45 pm PTThis podcast is sponsored by IXL Personalized Learning. IXL is used by more than 1 million teachers each day. It is also the most widely used online learning and teaching platform for K-12. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/ELBIXL