Sherwood High School’s new interim principal optimistic heading into school year

By Scott Keith

SHERWOOD, Ore. —  As the school year at Sherwood High School kicks off, new Interim Principal Josh Pratt has steep goals, including making sure students “have the best year here that they possibly can.” 

This is the eighth year Pratt has served at the high school.

“I started as a language, arts and social studies teacher,” he said. “I had an absolute blast as a teacher here. I taught middle school in Newberg prior to coming up and joining the Sherwood team.”

Pratt became the Dean of Students for a year, then became an assistant principal after that.

“Our former principal, Adam Mitchell, was here for five years as principal … he took another role,” he said.  “I’m really excited for this upcoming year … being in the principal’s seat is a great new opportunity for me and am looking forward to that.”

Pratt oversees a high school that has a little over 1,600 students. Looking ahead at the new school year, he has some goals.

“For me, first and foremost, I just want to be a great support for our staff, students, and families here,” he said.

Looking back at the last school year, Pratt said that overall, it was very successful.

“We’ve gone through a few changes both on the academic side and some of the operational side of things,” he said. “On the operational and financial side, we’re really lucky to get to partner with a great district team that helps really oversee that stewardship. Being responsible and good stewards of the public trust is a major goal of ours.”  

According to Pratt, things cost a lot more, and stretching dollars is seriously prioritized in Sherwood.

“We’re very grateful for the local support of the levy the last couple of years,” Pratt said. “That’s been a tremendous benefit to us here at the high school and district-wide on countless teaching positions and programs that are able to continue to run.”

He said one of his main goals is for the students to have the best year they possibly can.

“I want our students to have a fond memory of their time here, (and a) great experience in knowing that the adults in this building really cared for them. That’s always kind of top of my list,” Pratt said. “Our staff is just amazing. They build relationships with kids in a way that just knocks it out of the park all of the time.”

Pratt is proud of the staff that has assembled at the new high school.

“I’m very grateful for the administrative team that I have,” Pratt said. “I have three assistant principals and a dean of students here in the office with me. They are incredibly dedicated to supporting kids, families and our staff as well. They work tirelessly.”

The new Sherwood High School building opened in 2021.

“It’s a phenomenal facility. We’re very lucky to be here. It’s a state-of-the art facility across the board … The classrooms have amazing technology, and the athletic fields are state-of-the-art,” Pratt said. “Overall, it’s working very well. The flow of the building is great. Kids can move easily from one classroom to the next.”

The sheer size of the large school has some unique challenges, but Pratt said the team helps kids get from one place to the next effectively.

Pratt has optimistic thoughts heading into the new school year. 

“100%, I can’t wait for the school year to get going again, getting teachers and kids back in the building. It’s the first day of school for us, too. We’re always really excited about that,” he said. “It’s great to get a little bit of downtime over the summer, but we’re ready to go. We can’t wait for getting the teachers back, the first day of school, the first football game where the whole town gets to come, all that sort of fun stuff.”