Announcing the New ACCESS Principal

Dear staff and families:

I am pleased to announce that Aaron Ferguson will be the new principal of ACCESS K-8 School.

Aaron’s most recent position was that of principal of Alliance High School. At Alliance, he supported the two campuses in preparing to operate as a unified school in their new facility at hayu alqi uyxat (translated as “Many Future Paths” from Chinook Wawa), collaborated with instructional coaches to strengthen data systems and PLC work, and expanded opportunities for parent and family communication and engagement.

Prior to joining PPS, he served as the principal of Reynolds Learning Academy in Fairview, Oregon, where his many accomplishments included leading the school through its first-ever accreditation process and applying state and federal guidance for meeting the needs of non-binary and transgender students.

Aaron’s experience includes founding and serving as the director of Amandla middle and high schools in Chicago, Illinois. In his role as Amandla’s principal, he was honored with the 2013 Principal Achievement Award by the Chicago Mayor’s Office for outstanding school leadership.

Aaron began his career in education as a classroom teacher. He taught world studies and freshman seminars at Paul Robeson High School in Chicago and American History and Geography at Harlem Park Middle School in Baltimore.

Principal Ferguson earned his B.A. in queer studies and M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Minnesota. He also holds an Ed.M. in administration and leadership from the University of Illinois.

Please join me in congratulating Aaron Ferguson on being named principal of ACCESS K-8 School.

Cordially,

Dr. Jon Franco,
Chief of Schools