After 42 years in education, Klamath County School District Superintendent Greg Thede is retiring. As a token of appreciation, the Klamath County School Board has named the boardroom of the new school district headquarters the Thede Boardroom. (Sama… — After 42 years in education, Klamath County School District Superintendent Greg Thede is retiring. As a token of appreciation, the Klamath County School Board has named the boardroom of the new school district headquarters the Thede Boardroom. (Samantha Tipler)

Throughout February, March, April and May, Superintendent Greg Thede went on a Farewell Tour. He visited Klamath County schools to say goodbye and thank you as he neared the finish line of a 42-year career in education.

At the Henley Complex, all three schools joined together for an assembly. Students held up signs thanking him for the new elementary school and other improvements at Henley and throughout the district.

Henley High Principal Jack Lee said he had to convince Thede to attend, as the superintendent was too humble to want to be recognized.

“Greg, you are important,” Lee said he told Thede. “They may not know who you are on the street, but it’s important. They do appreciate what you’ve done. Let us show you that.”

Thede’s last day at the Klamath County School District will be on June 29. He is finishing more than four decades of service in education, 39 of them at the KCSD He has been a teacher and coach, vice principal, principal, personnel director and superintendent.

“It’s been an unbelievable ride,” Thede said. “But the time has come. Change is good. I think it’ll be good for the district.”

Leader for the district

Several colleagues and Board Members commended Thede on his leadership in the district and his commitment to students, staff and the community.

“Greg’s unwavering leadership and commitment to each of our 6,512 students unifies the district despite the distance that separates the communities,” said Klamath County School Board Vice Chair Denise Kandra. “Our diversity as a district is both amazing and challenging in many ways and we have been privileged to have Greg competently leading our teams, ensuring that our students receive quality education.”

“His leadership, abilities, common sense, vision and focus on what is best for students has made the best policy decisions obvious,” said KCSD Board Chairman John Rademacher. “His ability to effectively communicate to the board where we are as district and where we need to go for the benefit of all students and staff is what I will remember and admire the most.”

“He cares about people,” Lee said. “It’s not just a job. He cares, truly, about the people in this community.”

“Greg changed the culture in Klamath County regarding schools,” said James Huntsman, who worked with Thede as KCSD curriculum director until 2017. “He made this community a better place to live.”
Schools, students and staff

Thede’s accomplishments during his career impacted all of the Klamath County School District.

Several colleagues listed behind-the-scenes work among Thede’s greatest accomplishments as superintendent. He led efforts to update lighting, electrical, HVAC, heating and recycling and waste systems at schools, as well as remodels to add energy efficiency to buildings. He made the buildings warmer, safer and a better place to learn.

In some ways Henley book-ended this effort. In 2009 the district shifted to geothermal heating at the Henley Complex and in 2016 the district completed the new Henley Elementary. Meanwhile the district made improvements to schools throughout the district, from Chiloquin to Merrill, from Peterson to Shasta, from Mazama to the new District Office.

Kandra noted Thede’s commitment to open enrollment, which allows students to attend any school in either the KCSD or the City Schools.
“This policy allows parents to choose a school where students can thrive and achieve their maximum potential,” Kandra said.

Lee noted Thede’s commitment to extracurricular activities and elective classes. Schools have kept PE, auto shop, agriculture, music and sports when many districts in the Oregon had to cut those programs.

“We’ve maintained those through some really tough years financially,” Lee said. “It’s because of him.”

And KCSD students have gained advantages through strong partnerships Thede fostered with Oregon Tech, Klamath Community College, Kingsley Field and the agricultural economy. Those developed into programs like STEM&M and Henley Aerospace, as well as students traveling to KCC for classes, or partnering with OSU Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center for agriculture and internships.

“Greg is not afraid to reach out to the community and lobby on behalf of our students,” Kandra said.

Rise through the ranks

Thede’s career in education started at Chiloquin Jr./Sr. High School shortly after he had graduated from Willamette University.

“During his first years at Chiloquin High, Greg developed a reputation as an outstanding coach,” said Rademacher, who was a teacher at Chiloquin while Thede was principal and vice principal. “Locals who now qualify for AARP fondly remember Mr. Thede as Coach Thede.”

Thede began his career in the KCSD as a teacher and coach at Chiloquin High in 1976. He coached football and baseball but his real passion was basketball, where he took teams to the state playoffs.

He left the KCSD briefly in 1978, returning to Chiloquin for five more years as a teacher and coach in 1981. He became vice principal there in 1986. In 1988 he served as vice principal at Henley High for one year, then back to Chiloquin High as principal for one year. In 1990 Thede started a three-year stint as principal at Brixner Junior High and returned to Henley High for one more year as principal in 1993.

Lee began his career at the KCSD working with Thede. Lee began as a teacher at Chiloquin Jr./Sr. High School when Thede was principal in 1989.

“He’s been more or less my mentor for almost 30 years,” Lee said. “He does push your buttons and he’s usually very intentional about pushing our buttons to make you do better, to want to work harder.”

“He’s brutally honest with the people who work for him,” Huntsman, who has known Thede for 19 years, said. “And that is how you know how to improve. And it is supportive, fun and caring. You know you have probably improved when he laughs.”

“As a building administrator and mentor for myself, he taught me the importance of following policy,” Rademacher said, as well as knowing when there are exceptions to policy. “Being dependable, fair, reliable and his effective communication of decisions are expected of all students and staff.”

In 1994 Thede moved to district administration, becoming personnel director. He stayed in that position for 12 years. When he became personnel director, he helped hire quality teachers. When Rademacher was principal at Chiloquin High, he saw how those decisions impacted students.

“It seemed to me he always gave extra effort in helping me hire great staff,” Rademacher said.

And finally in 2006 Thede became KCSD superintendent.

During his tenure as superintendent, Thede oversaw the Klamath County district realignment. The KCSD and Klamath Falls City Schools re-drew boundary lines for schools, eliminating an overlap zone. In that switch, the KCSD took over Mazama High School and the City Schools took on Fairhaven and Altamont elementary schools.

“In 2009 Greg and the Board successfully led the state’s only realignment of districts, allowing the KCSD to be a complete K-12 district,” Kandra said, noting she was not on the board at that time. “This marked a historical change for the Klamath County and the Klamath Falls City Schools.”

Lasting impact

Colleagues agreed, Thede’s legacy at the Klamath County School District will live on, even after he departs on June 29.

“Maybe ‘Coach Thede’ is the best overall description of his career at KCSD,” Rademacher said. “After the team is set, Coach Thede leads and inspires the teachers, administrators and classified to work to the common goal of student success.”

“I don’t know of anybody that has more institutional knowledge of the district than he does,” Lee said. “He has invested over 40 years of his life to the district and its best interests. He has gained the institutional knowledge that comes with truly caring for something that long.”

“Don’t overlook what he has pulled together over these last decades,” Huntsman said. “He is leaving our community schools in a position to continue to improve and grow.”

“Each year I have watched him grow as a superintendent, he embraced the old and the new, always understanding that sometimes life happens and plans must be fluid,” Kandra said. “As a forward thinker, he has lead the district to where we are now and I believe he can leave with is head held high.”

Retirement celebration

Thede will have a lasting impact on the Klamath County School District in more ways than one.

On Thursday, June 21, the Board held a retirement celebration in Thede’s honor. At that event, Rademacher presented him with a sign reading, “Thede Boardroom.”

The board named their meeting room in the new KCSD district office after the long-serving superintendent.

Thede thanked everyone who came to the event, and instantly shared the spotlight. He thanked all the staff, teachers, administrators and the school board for their service to the district.

“You’re in good hands,” he said. “I’ll be interested to see how the district evolves and continues to improve. I think the future is bright for the district.”

Press release and photos provided from Samantha Tipler, Public Relations, Klamath County School District.

Editors Note

I first met Mr. Greg Thede when he was a principal of Henley High School in the 90's when I attended there in my youth. I cannot say I ever got to know Mr. Thede as a friend but rather as an acquaintance.

Since becoming publisher, and frankly even before that, I would see Thede at football games, basketball games, graduations and even just in the halls of the schools. He always had a smile on his face and joy in his heart. No matter how busy he was, he always took a moment to stop and say hi. Even at his retirement ceremony he took a moment to walk over, shake hands and chat.

Thank you for your commitment to education. Whether it was your intentions or not, throughout your career your leadership and personal values been an inspiration to thousands if not tens of thousands of students and staff. Greg you will be missed by many, I wish you well in your future and may retirement treat you well.

Brian Gailey, Publisher
Klamath Falls News