Portland Schools Reassigned Principal After 2019 Incident
The district moved a former principal to a kindergarten teaching role following an incident involving a student.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Administration
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Portland Public Schools reassigned Diana Madarieta to a kindergarten position at Sitton Elementary School following an incident at Arleta Elementary School in 2019 where a student ingested crack cocaine. The district previously moved the administrator to a district office role before her eventual reassignment to classroom teaching.
Why it matters
Parents expressed concern regarding the history of the employee and the lack of transparency in the district process used to approve the classroom assignment. These feelings led to a local petition from an advocacy group seeking further clarity on the district's staffing decisions.
The petition currently holds 18 signatures from members of the local community. The employee legally changed her name from Diana Kruger in July 2026.
The players
Diana Madarieta
She is a former principal of Arleta Elementary School who now serves as a kindergarten teacher at Sitton Elementary School.
Portland Public Schools
This is the primary school district responsible for managing staffing, student safety, and administrative assignments in Portland.
Safe Schools St. Johns
This is an advocacy group that launched a petition to demand greater transparency regarding school district personnel decisions.
The details
Following an internal review process regarding the 2019 incident, the district initially reassigned the staff member away from administrative duties. The recent placement at Sitton Elementary School has prompted parents to question how the district communicates staff history and classroom placement decisions.
Timeline
A student ingested crack cocaine at Arleta Elementary School in 2019.
The employee legally changed her name from Diana Kruger in July 2026.
KOIN first reported on the staff reassignment in August 2026.
The article detailing the transparency petition was published on September 24, 2026.
Safe Schools St. Johns plans to present concerns to the board on October 6, 2026.
Culture Shift
The community focus on district staffing follows the 2019 incident at Arleta Elementary School. This trend marks a push for parental oversight in administrative hiring and placement.
Parents at Sitton Elementary School may face uncertainty regarding the district's internal notification protocols for classroom staff. The upcoming board meeting provides a path for residents to seek formal clarity on these personnel policies.
The takeaway
The reassignment process remains a sensitive topic for parents who prioritize transparency in the placement of school staff. Local advocacy continues to influence how the district communicates historical staff information to the community.
What happens next
Safe Schools St. Johns is scheduled to present their concerns regarding district transparency to the Portland Public Schools board during a meeting on October 6, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on local school governance, visit the Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KOIN 6 Portland.
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