David Atherton

           Dr. David Atherton is from Troutdale, OR and has been in education for 25 years as a teacher and secondary administrator. He holds degrees in English and Secondary Education from the University of Portland, Technical/Professional Writing from Portland State University, and a doctorate in Educational Administration from Concordia-Portland. He completed his administrative licensure through Lewis and Clark College. 

He has held many roles in education including high school English, Speech, and Student Leadership at Lakeridge and Sisters High Schools. He served as an administrator in the Gresham-Barlow School District assistant principal at Sam Barlow High School from 2006-12 and the principal of Clear Creek Middle School from 2012 to 2022. At Clear Creek, he has actively participated in program development with STEAM, AVID, teaching and learning innovation. Since 2022, Dr. Atherton has served as the principal of Molalla High School, re-engineering school systems, implementing post-secondary pathways, and strategically planning for continued school and community growth.

Dr. Atherton is active in education locally and nationally. He has presented at workshops and conferences at the regional and state level on School Improvement, Data Teams, and AVID. An inaugural member of the NAEP Principals' Standing Committee in 2013, Dr. Atherton contributes to the committee's review of and recommendations on issues, practices, and policies related to NAEP.  Dr. Atherton has received a variety of grants through local organizations to support STEAM programs, industry partnerships, and was a co-recipient of a Fulbright Teachers’ International Professional Development Program scholarship. Dr. Atherton served on the Metro-East Web Academy Board of Directors from 2010-2012 and began serving as a board member again in 2019. He is a proud veteran, serving as an airborne infantryman from 1992-1995 in the 82ndAirborne Division.  Dr. Atherton spends his free time in Central Oregon and pursues salmon, trout, and steelhead throughout the Pacific Northwest.