Tiffin takes new job of Athletics Chief for the Salem Keizer School District
South Salem principal had been previously been the Saxons’ AD for seven years
Longtime South Salem High School principal Lara Tiffin has agreed to take on a new role with the Salem-Keizer School District.
Tiffin—who has served as South’s principal since 2014—announced in an email to her staff just before the Memorial Day Holiday weekend that she had accepted the newly created position of Athletics and Activities Coordinator for the district.
“Kids are craving a sense of belonging and a sense of connection,” wrote Tiffin, pointing out the impact that the pandemic had in isolating students from each other.
“I have the unique opportunity to directly address this need by expanding access to and improving engagement in athletics and activities throughout our district.”
Specifically, Tiffin will be working to identify new resources, funding opportunities, and community partnerships to help grow district activities and athletic programs.
Tiffin has experience with both athletics and activities, serving as first the activities director and later as the Athletic Director at South Salem High from 2000 to 2007. She also coached swimming at South, and provided support for student programs at South and at Judson Middle School, where she was principal from 2008 to 2014.
Bryan Sutherland, President of the Salem-Keizer High School Sports Booster Club, thinks the announcement of Tiffin’s new position is a good thing for local athletics.
“We now will have a point of contact with someone who I believe understands the importance of high school sports,” says Sutherland.
District officials will now begin the process of finding a successor to Tiffin for the South Salem principal position.