Ryan Carpenter has served as the Superintendent of the Estacada School District since July of 2017. He joined the Estacada team as a social studies teacher and baseball coach during the fall of 2009. Carpenter started his education career in 2006 as a high school social studies teacher and coach at Grant Union High School located in the beautiful John Day, Oregon.
A native of Oregon, Dr. Carpenter grew up in Gresham and graduated from Centennial High School. He earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership & Policy at Portland State University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Concordia University (Portland), and a Bachelor of Arts in history from Eastern Oregon University. Ryan Carpenter has also earned a Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate from the Management and Strategy Institute.
Dr. Carpenter has a vast array of experience and honors in his 15-year career in public education in Oregon serving as a superintendent, high school principal, vice-principal, athletic director, teacher, and coach. He is a member of the Oregon School Activities Association Delegate Assembly, has served on the Oregon Department of Education’s textbook adoption selection committee, and is a member of the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators, American Educational Research Association, and the School Superintendents Association.
Dr. Carpenter was recently recognized by the National School Public Relations Association as a 2021 Top Superintendent to Watch . In 2016 Oregon Future Business Leaders of America Principal of the Year. Also in 2016, he was recognized as a School Emergency Preparedness Leader by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). The Estacada Chamber of Commerce awarded Mr. Carpenter the 2018 School Employee of the Year. In 2008, 2009, and 2014 Carpenter was recognized as The Coach of The Year by the Eastern Oregon and Tri-Valley Leagues.
While serving as Superintendent, the Estacada School District has also received accolades for organizational excellence. In 2020, the Estacada School District was honored as one of only nineteen school districts in the United States to be recognized as a Model PLC District by Solution Tree. Estacada Schools also achieved the highest honors from its employees and in 2020 & 2021 was selected for The Oregonian's Top Workplaces in the State of Oregon. For 6 consecutive years, Estacada High School has also been recognized as a "Top High School" by US News and World Reports.
Dr. Carpenter has presented at local, regional, state, and national conferences and is a published author in professional journals. He is a hands-on leader who regularly visits classrooms, athletic events, music performances, and community events. Dr. Carpenter has become a leader in the implementation of DuFour Model PLCs and instilling a collaborative culture inside the teaching and learning environment. He has also been recognized as a leader who implements Improvement Science Methodology and Evidence-Based Leadership to effect transformational change within the district. Ryan Carpenter is also involved in the community through many civic organizations and is a regularly attending member of the Estacada Chamber of Commerce.
Ryan Carpenter lives in the Estacada School District and is married to his wife of 13 years (Amy). They have three children, all of who are enrolled in Estacada Schools. Carpenter enjoys hunting, fishing, and camping with his family.
