Johnie Ferro
Educational Leader Specializing In Career & Technical Education
Silverton,OR
Summary
Education leader with extensive experience advancing Career and Technical Education (CTE), workforce alignment, and equitable student outcomes. Proven ability to lead program development, policy design and implementation, and data-driven improvement initiatives at the state, regional and local levels. Skilled in building cross-sector partnerships, facilitating professional learning, and driving strategic efforts that expand access to high-quality career pathways. Collaborative and results-oriented, with a strong commitment to improving systems and outcomes for diverse learners.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Education Specialist 2
Oregon Department of Education
Salem, Oregon
05.2023 - Current
- Currently serving as an Education Specialist 2 focusing on Education, Law, and Middle School Career Exploration.
- Demonstrated success in building the capacity of schools and regions to enhance Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, with a commitment to promoting educational equity.
- Adept at leading work groups, evaluating program effectiveness, facilitating professional learning communities, and providing training to educators.
- Skilled in developing partnerships, coordinating strategic planning activities, and ensuring compliance with relevant policies and standards.
- Provide comprehensive training on the Statewide Program of Study framework, application process, and skill sets to CTE Regional Coordinators and CTE Human Resources educators.
- Evaluate and enhance High-Quality Programs of Study in CTE Human Resources, considering student data, enrollment trends, and workforce needs.
- Facilitate professional learning communities for CTE Human Resource programs, fostering state and regional capacity building and continuous improvement of CTE programs across the state.
- Lead efforts to design, develop, implement, and assess instructional strategies for the CTE Human Resources Program of Study and Middle School CTE Exploration.
- Collaborate with content area specialists, directors, and external experts to align Oregon Knowledge and Skill Sets, content standards, and career readiness practices.
- Lead the review and approval of applications for new or revised CTE Programs of Study and relevant grant applications.
- Served as a member of the Senate Bill 3 Core Implementation Team, tasked with creating and adopting content standards for newly required classes in higher education career path skills and personal financial education.
- Co-led the Middle School CTE Career Awareness and Exploration modules to be integrated with middle school core academic classes and aligned with the state academic standards in Math, Science, Language Arts, and Social Sciences, thus creating more equitable access to career education allowing them to be better prepared for secondary and postsecondary planning and career pathways.
- Co-leading the modernization of the Oregon CTE project, utilizing the National Career Clusters Framework to reflect current education and workforce development priorities.
- Develop and implement curriculum frameworks to enhance educational outcomes statewide.
- Coordinate professional development workshops for educators, fostering instructional improvement.
Principal
Willamette ESD - Willamette Career Academy
Salem , OR
01.2021 - 05.2023
- The Willamette Career Academy (WCA) was the first regional hub for career and technical innovation for juniors and seniors across Marion, Yamhill, and Polk counties.
- WCA opened in September of 2021 with phase 1 programs and served over 200 diverse and motivated students in Cosmetology, Health Services, and Diesel Technology.
- Construction, Computer Science, and Manufacturing opened in 2022, and, in total, WCA serves a student body with over 64% identifying as BIPOC.
- Served as part of a leadership team that has raised over 12 million dollars for the WCA project, including 7 million dollars in lottery bonds, negotiated partnerships with Salem Health, Pape’ Machinery, Freres Lumber, and several charitable foundations.
- Developed and led Individual Program Advisory Committees to establish program outcomes through an interactive and collaborative process with industry, post-secondary, and project partners.
- Those outcomes included articulation agreements for over 39 college articulated credits.
- Created and implemented a student marketing campaign that resulted in over 85% capacity in year one.
- Oversaw recruitment, hiring, licensing, supervision, and evaluation for all WCA staff.
- Developed and oversaw 6 regional programs of study in accordance with Perkins V legislation.
Assistant Principal
Silver Falls School District - Silverton High School
Silverton, Oregon
07.2017 - 12.2020
- Primary responsibilities included high school curriculum, articulation, accreditation, and management of the counseling, CTE, math, and science departments, ensuring access to guaranteed and viable educational standards, academic, career, and emotional supports for students, and support for staff.
- Served as part of a leadership team that increased high school completion rates from 88% to 92%.
- Participated in the creation of the SFSD Strategic Vision Plan and oversaw Indicator 1a of the implementation process.
- Created a tier 3 intervention process to rescue and recover our most at-risk students. The most recent focus was on Comprehensive Distance Learning.
- Increased CTE Programs of Study from 3 to 10, serving 83% of all students and graduating concentrators at 96%+.
- Founded and co-chaired the SHS Equity Team.
- Provided effective instructional strategies and feedback through quality professional development and classroom observations.
- Developed a new 8th-9th grade summer transition program, combining academic support coupled with CTE exploration.
- Created and managed the High School Success budget of over 1.3 million dollars, and completed all reporting to ODE and supervision of goals.
Assistant Principal
Salem Keizer Public Schools - McKay High School
Salem , OR
07.2016 - 06.2017
- McKay High School is the largest, most diverse, and economically disadvantaged school in the Salem-Keizer School District.
- Our goal was that all students graduate college and career-ready, using CTE, AVID, and positive relationships as the primary strategies for supporting that goal.
- Selected to attend the American Career and Technical Education Conference in Las Vegas, NV with District Leadership.
- Selected for the SKPS CTE and Measure 98 Implementation Team.
- Served on the CTE Implementation Team for SKPS to target marketing and retention of CTE programs.
- Attended an AVID Institute and helped implement AVID school-wide.
- Directly supervised teachers from 5 departments, including CTE.
- Coordinated all district and state assessments at McKay High School.
- Served as a member of the McKay professional development team.
Advisory Group Coordinator (TOSA), Activities Director, and Agriculture Science Teacher
Silver Falls School District - Silverton High School
Silverton, OR
07.2008 - 06.2016
- ADVISORY GROUP COORDINATOR (TOSA) AND ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR | July 2013 - June 2016
- Redesigned the Advisory Group (AG) curriculum to better prepare students for their post-secondary goals and to more closely align with the graduation requirements with an emphasis on social-emotional learning standards, Career Related Learning Standards (CRLS), and 21st Century Skills.
- During my tenure as Activities Director, the Mr. SHS Pageant increased revenues by over 500%, benefiting Medical Teams International.
- AGRICULTURE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INSTRUCTOR | July 2008 - June 2013
- Wrote and secured over $100,000 in grants to become one of the first Oregon schools to implement the National Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education.
- Participated on the design team for the state-of-the-art CTE facility and Greenhouse build that opened in the Fall of 2009.
- Implemented a nationally accredited curriculum to align with state and national standards with an emphasis in STEM.
- Fully outfitted the agriculture lab science room with the materials to make hands-on, industry-based courses that counted for high school science and college credit.
- Served as full-time advisor for the FFA chapter at the local, district, sectional, state, and national levels.
Agriculture Science Teacher
Mt. Angel School District - JFK High School
Mt. Angel, OR
07.2006 - 06.2008
- Established approved agriculture program of study and FFA chapter, enhancing student engagement and community involvement.
- Led strategic planning, fundraising, budgeting/grant writing, and public relations initiatives to support program growth and visibility.
- Designed and delivered interactive lessons in agriculture and related fields, fostering student understanding and enthusiasm for the subject.
Education
Principal License - Educational Leadership
Portland State University
Portland, OR 05.2001 -
Masters of Science - Agriculture Education
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR06-2006
Bachelor of Science - General Agriculture
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR06-2005
Skills
Career & Technical Education (CTE) & Workforce Alignment
Program Evaluation & Continuous Improvement
Education Policy, Compliance & Strategic Planning
Leadership, Project Management & Capacity Building
Partner Engagement
Instructional Leadership & Professional Training
Equity, Access & Inclusive Program Design
Communication, Facilitation & Influence
Collaboration & Relationship Building
Conflict Resolution & Decision-Making
Ethical & Servant Leadership
Adaptability, Initiative & Self-Direction
Accomplishments
- Larry VandenBrink's Dinner Gala 2019 Speaker – $500,000 earned
- Great Strides Fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis – Over $125,000 in personal fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis
- Vivian Lee Foundation 2018 and 2025 Keynote Speaker
Affiliations
- Silverton Rotary 2019-2020
- Mid-Willamette Education Consortium Executive Council 2017-2023
- Willamette Curriculum Coalition Co-Chair 2018-2019
- Coalition of Oregon School Administrators – Member 2016-2023
- National Association of Student Councils – Member 2013-2016
- Oregon Association of Student Councils – Member 2013-2016
- Oregon Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association Member 2008-2013
- National Association of Agricultural Educators National Conference Workshop Presenter 2011
- Curriculum for Agriculture Science Education (CASE) National Lead Teacher 2011
- Oregon Association of Career and Technical Educators State Conference Workshop Presenter 2011-Present
Certification
TSPC Principal License
Servant Leadership
I have a strong personal connection to Cystic Fibrosis and I am dedicated to supporting the search for a cure.
Timeline
Education Specialist 2
Oregon Department of Education
05.2023 - Current
Principal
Willamette ESD - Willamette Career Academy
01.2021 - 05.2023
Assistant Principal
Silver Falls School District - Silverton High School
07.2017 - 12.2020
Assistant Principal
Salem Keizer Public Schools - McKay High School
07.2016 - 06.2017
Advisory Group Coordinator (TOSA), Activities Director, and Agriculture Science Teacher
Silver Falls School District - Silverton High School
07.2008 - 06.2016
Agriculture Science Teacher
Mt. Angel School District - JFK High School
07.2006 - 06.2008
Principal License - Educational Leadership
Portland State University
05.2001 -
Masters of Science - Agriculture Education
Oregon State University
Bachelor of Science - General Agriculture
Oregon State University