Pendleton School District offices reshape with new school year
By Terry Murry on Monday, August 24th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Pendleton School District Superintendent Michelle Jensen is entering her second year on the job. This summer she’s been busy shaping the district office to be more about schools and students than about administrative duties.
“Rather than keeping our school improvement dollars in a separate bucket, we have blended the funds together to be able to expand our support for teaching and learning,” she said.
Matt Yoshioka, who was the director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, has been named assistant superintendent. Then, faced with the retirement of a key administrator, Julie Smith, Jensen was able to hire three people to help achieve her goal.
“We have braided together some school improvement funds with our general funds to be able to expand,” she said. The district now has three new positions. Tess Welch is coordinator of elementary teaching and learning, Aaron Cook is coordinator of secondary teaching and learning, and Rebecca Marshall is coordinator of student services.
File photo of Michelle Jensen
