From increasing literacy rates to strengthening infrastructure, Portland Public Schools (PPS) Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong has worked toward supporting students in many ways.
Armstrong took on the role of superintendent just before the 2024-25 school year, and, using knowledge from her years of teaching, has since worked to make improvements for students across the district.
Armstrong grew up in San Francisco, California. Her family experienced poverty and homelessness, leading to her never attending a single school for more than two consecutive years. As a result, she calls her childhood experience “fragmented and unpredictable.”
In her 20s, she started working with nonprofits and as a mentor in classrooms to support students. While working as a head basketball coach, Armstrong learned that no Black students met the mathematic standard on Washington’s state test. “And so, a year and a half later, I was a math teacher,” she says.
At that point, Armstrong was already close to finishing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. After earning her MBA, she enrolled in a Master of Teaching program, through which she explored working with various grade levels, before settling on middle school math. Although it was not her strongest subject, she says that she “just wanted to help be a part of supporting students in their learning and growth.”
Armstrong spent several years teaching in both middle and high schools. During her first year, she had the opportunity to meet the superintendent of the district she worked in at the time, who encouraged her to pursue a career in school administration.
In 2008, Armstrong was accepted into both the University of Washington’s doctoral program and Seattle University’s principal administration specialist program. “The crazy thing (is, I) actually did both of the programs at the same time,” she says.
She received her principal certification in 2010 and her doctorate in 2012, and was subsequently hired as an administrator. “From there, it’s just climbing the ranks,” she says. “The rest is sort of history.”
Armstrong worked for Evergreen Public Schools in Vancouver, Washington, as the deputy superintendent prior to taking on the position of superintendent of PPS in July 2024.
As superintendent, she aims to hit a variety of targets. “We’re at crisis level when it comes to literacy,” she says. “So literacy is a goal.” She notes that more kindergarteners are enrolling than they have since 2012, acknowledging that it is largely due to the work of employees across the district.
She also aims to increase student performance by improving teacher clarity. One thing students may notice, she says, is “the learning targets that teachers have on the board, or (that) they’re being really clear about what students are learning and what the expectations are.”
Many of Armstrong’s goals revolve around improving infrastructure in PPS’ schools. She is working on addressing seismic concerns, along with ensuring that buildings have effective heating and cooling systems in place. PPS’ ongoing project to remodel all of its high schools is continuing as well, with plans approved to break ground on three in the spring of 2026.
Armstrong says the most impactful thing she has done as superintendent is simply talking to students and staff, which she says allows her to “understand directly from the people in school buildings what they need from (the) superintendent.”
The district’s work under Armstrong has resulted in many accomplishments. She notes that one of the things she’s most proud of is that student academic achievement has surpassed where it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. She also acknowledges that there have been substantial gains for Indigenous students.
Armstrong has a grandchild who is currently in preschool, whom she has enjoyed watching grow up. She also recently became a guardian to her niece and nephew. “It’s kind of interesting being back with the young people after celebrating being an empty nester just three years ago,” she says. “I cannot believe that these wide-leg, over- sized jeans are back … they’re keeping me grounded on what’s current these days with young people.”
Outside of work, Armstrong is an avid reader as well as a fan of the San Francisco 49ers football team, and travels to games on Sundays when possible.
Armstrong says that many of the people she talks to mention that they would never want her job. While there are tough moments, she says, she isn’t intimidated. “I hear from more upset folks than I do happy folks. No one’s sending an email to say ‘good job,’” she says. “Quite honestly, that’s why I wanted to be superintendent in Portland Public Schools, because I feel like I’m well-equipped to climb these hills alongside our team.”
She is very proud of the work being done by individuals across the district. “I think we have some of the best teachers in the nation,” she says. “It’s my job to make sure that people know that.”
