About our Interim Executive Director, Melissa Goff:
Melissa was unanimously appointed by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission as their Interim Executive Director on October 05, 2023.
Melissa Goff was born and raised in Oregon and has spent her professional career serving small and large districts and schools across our state. Following receipt of her Bachelor’s of Science in Education, Ms. Goff began her career in teaching in Mitchell, Oregon, where 96 students were served in the rural community. Melissa taught language arts in the Beaverton School District before joining their Office of Assessment and pursuing her Master’s in Education, Policy, and Foundations from Portland State University. Since that time, Melissa has helped to open Summit High School in Bend-LaPine School District, served as an assistant principal and principal at the secondary level, and served in various positions in central office leadership, including Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning for Portland Public Schools. Melissa served as the Superintendent of Philomath School District and Greater Albany Public schools prior to coaching superintendents through the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators and, later, joining the team at the Oregon School Boards Association as their deputy executive director. Soon after assuming this role with OSBA, Melissa received the privilege of an invite to join Governor Tina Kotek's staff as her Education Policy Advisor in July 2023, where she provided leadership and support on educational issues across all State of Oregon education agencies. When the TSPC Executive Director position unexpectedly became vacant mid-school year, Governor Kotek and the Commission asked Melissa to step in and serve for an interim period. Melissa says that her experience in urban and rural settings and service in key K-12 leadership positions in which she has consistently advocated for and built systems of equity, inclusion, and belonging have helped her tremendously in this role at TSPC.
Goff has a BS from Western Oregon State College and a MEd from PSU.