Office of the Superintendent

Dear Students, Families, Staff, and Community Members of Mt. Adams School District #209,

It is with profound joy, deep humility, and an open heart that I introduce myself as the new Superintendent of Mt. Adams School District #209. My name is Dr. Ralph Watkins, and I am truly honored to step into this role and to join the White Swan school community. To be entrusted with the education and well-being of the students, families, and staff of this district is a privilege I do not take lightly. I come to this work with enthusiasm, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to every young person who walks through our school doors.

I am deeply honored to serve on the ancestral homelands of the Yakama Nation. I do not arrive here as a visitor,I arrive as a servant, with a solemn responsibility to honor legacy in everything I do as superintendent.

My commitment to supporting the sovereignty and self-determination of the of the Yakama Nation is is a cornerstone of my leadership philosophy. I pledge to engage authentically with Yakama Nation tribal leadership, elders, the Yakama Nation Language Program, Johnson-O'Malley (JOM) committees, and community families as true partners in the education of our students. I am committed to ensuring that Washington State's "Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State" curriculum is taught with fidelity, depth, and cultural respect. I will actively support the revitalization of Ichishkíin (Sahaptin), the language of the Yakama people and the Grow Your Own teacher residency program. Our schools must be places where Indigenous language and culture are not merely acknowledged, but celebrated and strengthened.

Our district reflects the rich diversity of this community, with approximately 56% of our students identifying as Indigenous and 37% as Latinx, we are a beautifully multicultural school family. I am committed to serving every student with equity, care, and high expectations. Most importantly, I am committed to ensuring that each student who enters our schools is respected and safe, and that they leave not only academically prepared, but whole, with their identity, culture, language, and heritage fully intact and strengthened. Students should never have to choose between their cultural identity and their academic success. In our schools, both will thrive together. I will work tirelessly to dismantle any barrier that stands between a child and their full, authentic sense of self.

I am excited to listen, learn, and grow alongside this remarkable community. My door, and my heart, is always open. I look forward to attending community events, visiting classrooms, meeting with families, and building the kind of trust that can only be earned through consistent, respectful action over time. Together, we will create schools that are safe havens of learning, culture, and belonging for every child. Thank you for welcoming me into this community. It is the honor of my life to serve alongside you.

With deep respect and gratitude,

Dr. Ralph Watkins

Superintendent, Mt. Adams School District # 209