By James Day
David Plotts, who has had a presence in the Santiam Canyon for 56 years, with 38 of those years spent educating and coaching students in the region, is
retiring. Kind of.
Plotts has surrendered the reins as principal of Santiam High School and junior high to Angela Rasmussen, but he plans to continue to coach girls basketball. And he said that in the future he would like to find a way to continue to help the school.
“I have a lifetime of memories that will always be cherished,” Plotts told Our Town. “I know I didn’t hit a ‘home run’ with everyone, but I hope I have made the school and district a better place.”
Rasmussen comes to the district from a position as assistant principal at West Salem High. She also has worked in the Reynolds School District and her extensive educational background includes roles in special education, career technical education, counseling, math and English.
“She is well respected by her colleagues, and she is known to be a qualified teacher who is fair and with high integrity,” Todd Miller, superintendent of the Santiam Canyon School District told Our Town. “She treats all her staff with respect and, most of all, she is passionate about the success of all students. The committee felt that her skills and personality are a great fit four our school.”
“I am thrilled to be joining the team at Santiam Junior/Senior High,” Rasmussen said. “I look forward to partnering with the community and continuing to create opportunities for the benefit of every child.”
Plotts, meanwhile, has all kinds of plans, including participating in the lives and activities of his ten grandchildren, knocking off a few trips that are on his bucket list, visiting friends throughout the U.S. and getting started on some long-postponed work remodeling his house.
“Sometimes you just know it’s time,” Plotts said, noting that he had the same feeling when he switched from teaching to administration midway through his career.
“In the mid-1990s it just all of a sudden hit me. I looked around the school and saw much of our staff were getting up there closer to retirement, and I knew none of them were going to be taking over as principal. Plus, for the previous 20 years it seemed we had gone through a new principal every 2-5 years so it was a little hard developing consistency in what we were doing. So I did a lot of praying and felt it was time for me to step up and take more overall leadership at the school. Thankfully, the selection committee gave me a chance.”
There were some difficult years that followed, with budget and program cuts challenging staff and students alike.
“The last five years the district has made some great strides,” Plotts said, “I just hope I can leave the position in a good spot …without too many headaches and continue to make the school a place that takes care of kids.”
“Mr. Plotts has been and will continue to be a huge advocate for our schools and our students,” Miller said. “His continuous dedication to the Santiam Canyon is admirable and worthy of recognition. His presence and knowledge will be missed.”
