Crook County School Board holds listening sessions after survey shows strong support for interim superintendent
Claire Elmer
(Update: adding video, results of survey)
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Crook County School Board took the first step this week toward potentially appointing Interim Superintendent Dr. Joel Hoff to a permanent position. The move follows a public survey that showed 96.5% of respondents support making the appointment permanent.
More than 400 community members participated in the three-week survey conducted in January, representing a 60% increase in participation compared to the district’s previous public survey on a separate topic. The respondent group was nearly balanced, including 38% of input coming from parents or family members, 35% from staff, and 25% from community residents.
The survey results, presented during the Crook County School Board meeting on Monday, showed an average comfort level of 9.4 out of 10 for Hoff leading the district long-term. Many respondents described the interim superintendent as “visible, relational, and student-centered” while praising his active presence within both the schools and the local community.
While much of the feedback was positive, the survey also highlighted specific areas for potential growth. Respondents noted a need for a clearer long-term vision, more consistent accountability, and stronger district-wide systems.
During the Monday night meeting, board members commended Hoff for his work during his interim tenure. The board indicated interest in gaining more clarity on the specific improvements suggested in the survey through a series of upcoming listening sessions.
A series of public listening sessions begin this week for students, staff, Spanish-speaking families, and more. Dr. Hoff will not be in attendance for these conversations to allow the board to gather additional, honest input before making a final decision. The schedule and locations for these sessions are available on the district website.