Superintendent

Kirsten Rue

Kirsten Rue, Superintendent

Office: 360-866-5903
Fax: 360-866-9684

krue@griffinschool.us

Ms. Rue's Favorite Quote:
"Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay." - Maya Angelou

February 28, 2025

Hello Griffin Families,

We are now more than halfway through the 2024-25 school year, and it has been a joy to serve as your superintendent. I am truly grateful for the incredible children you entrust to us each day—it is a privilege to watch them learn and grow here at Griffin. The strong partnership between our school and our families is what makes Griffin such a special district, and I deeply appreciate your ongoing support.

Our district does an outstanding job of preparing students for success in high school. We see this reflected in the Olympia School District’s recent cohort data for our Griffin Grads from the Class of 2024. Among those who attended high school in OSD (which includes most of our Griffin students):

  • 100% graduated on time (within four years), compared to the state average of 83% and OSD’s 94%.

  • Three students earned a Full International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.

  • Five students graduated with both their high school diploma and a college Associate’s degree.

  • As a cohort, they maintained a 93% attendance rate, demonstrating strong engagement in their education.

As I reflect on the success of our graduates, I have no doubt that our current Griffin students will continue to thrive. Here are some of the reasons why:

  • Academic Growth: iReady diagnostic data shows our students making significant progress in math and reading. When we see students struggling, we take action by providing targeted support.

  • Improved Attendance: We’ve seen attendance rates rise at both the elementary and middle school levels this year. Thank you, parents and guardians—your commitment to getting students to school each day makes a tremendous difference!

  • Expanding Opportunities: We are in the early stages of growing offerings beyond the traditional classroom to help students feel connected to their school community. In addition to Archery Club that continues to flourish (thank you Mr. Whitney and Mr. Poland!), a Drill Team club led by Ms. Evans, has just started. In 4th quarter, students can look forward to a new Cooking Club with Ms. Kelly and a Flatland Skateboarding Club with Mr. Fleming. Additionally, a dedicated group of teachers is working to bring back an Outdoor Education experience for 5th and 6th graders.

Finally, I want to thank everyone who participated in our Strategic Plan Questionnaire last month. Your insights were invaluable to our planning team. We are currently analyzing your feedback, and next month, we will:

  • Finalize new vision and mission statements

  • Identify a set of core values

  • Outline district priorities to guide our next five-year strategic plan

Most importantly, this plan is rooted in the voices of our students, staff, families, and community. Community is at the heart of everything we do, and it’s what makes Griffin such a special place.

With gratitude,

Kirsten Rue
Griffin Superintendent