Katherine Holden, Administrator

Katherine Holden, a holistic educator, started her career as a teacher at the Wilderness Charter School and Ashland Middle School before becoming the Associate Principal at Ashland Middle School and then the principal of Talent Middle School. Now in her first year as Administrator, Katherine is eager to cultivate a strong sense of community and be inspired by the joy of seeing students thrive.

Katherine truly believes that education is the development of the whole person—mind, body, and spirit and that learning should be a joyful, transformative experience that goes beyond traditional academics. As a teacher, Katherine fostered environments where students were encouraged to explore, question, and grow in every aspect of their lives. She has consistently modeled that true education nurtures the whole child and views education not just as a means to an end, but as a lifelong journey of self-discovery, empathy, and growth.

Katherine is also passionate about grading reform, as she firmly believes that fundamental to learning, students need feedback that is clear, specific, meaningful, and encouraging. She has been sharing this work at conferences across the country and is currently enrolled at the University of Oregon working toward her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership to pursue this interest more deeply.

Katherine loves leading professional development focused on social-emotional learning, community building and restorative justice, high-quality instructional practices, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Katherine has served on the Board of Directors for Madrone Trail Charter School, TRAILS Outdoor School, and the Oregon Middle Level Association. 

In 2022, Katherine was named the National Assistant Principal of the Year.