In the heart of Klamath, two remarkable educators stand out for exceptional dedication to their schools and communities.

Rita Hepper, principal of Chiloquin Elementary School, and Adam Randall, a coordinator for Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Klamath County School District (KCSD), have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to education.

Rita Hepper — 2024 Oregon Elementary School Principal of the Year

Rita Hepper, a Chiloquin native and product of its school system, was recently named the 2024 Oregon Elementary School Principal of the Year.

Her deep ties to the community and unwavering commitment to its welfare have left an indelible mark.

The Two Four Two Fire

From her pivotal role during the Two Four Two Fire — where she transformed her school into a lifeline for families displaced by the wildfire — Hepper exemplified leadership in crisis.

In a community where the school is more than a school — where it's the gathering point, the safe space, the place neighbors come together — Rita Hepper made sure Chiloquin Elementary was that during one of the hardest stretches the community had ever faced.

Educational Innovation

Beyond crisis leadership, Hepper has driven innovative educational strategies at Chiloquin Elementary resulting in notable academic progress for her students. Her approach is rooted in:

  • Deep cultural competency — Chiloquin Elementary serves a student body with significant Klamath Tribes and rural-community representation
  • High expectations for every student — refusing to lower the bar based on demographics
  • Teacher development — investing in her staff so they can invest in students
  • Family engagement — keeping parents and caregivers connected to the school's work

Why It Matters

Hepper epitomizes leadership that shows up in every season — the easy years, the hard years, and the fire-year that nobody saw coming.

For a Chiloquin native to come home, lead the school she once attended, and now be recognized statewide for her work — that's a story Klamath County School District should be proud of.

Adam Randall — KCSD CTE Coordinator

Adam Randall has been a driving force in expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities across KCSD.

What CTE Is

CTE programs prepare high-school students for careers in:

  • Skilled trades — construction, welding, automotive, agricultural mechanics
  • Healthcare — CNA pathways, EMS introduction, healthcare exploration
  • Business and entrepreneurship — DECA, FBLA, small business
  • Agriculture — FFA programs, agricultural science, ranch and farm management
  • Information technology — networking, programming, cybersecurity fundamentals

Modern CTE isn't "the track for kids who aren't going to college." It's career-relevant high-school education that produces graduates ready for either college or the workforce — and often both.

Klamath County's CTE Strength

KCSD has built a notably strong CTE program — and Adam Randall's coordination work is a big part of why.

Recent KCSD CTE wins:

  • Bonanza's two-year pre-apprenticeship program in construction and carpentry, backed by nearly $500,000 in BOLI and ODE grants
  • Mazama High School's summer enrichment manufacturing course — for-credit work-skills programming
  • Henley DECA — sending students to international competition
  • Multi-school agricultural science programming
  • Career pathway alignment with regional employers and workforce-development partners

That kind of program depth doesn't happen by accident. It happens because coordinators like Adam Randall do the unglamorous work of grant applications, employer partnerships, teacher recruitment, and curriculum design.

Both of Them

Two educators. Two very different roles. One shared commitment: the kids of Klamath County deserve excellent education, and we are going to deliver it.

To Rita Hepper and Adam Randall — and to every educator in the Klamath County School District quietly doing the work — thank you.

The basin's future is being built in your classrooms, your meetings, and your long after-hours stretches.

Congratulations on the recognition. Well-earned.