New principal for Parkwood Elementary - Doug Poage

Doug Poage selected as principal
for Parkwood Elementary
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools

Doug Poage has been selected as principal of Parkwood Elementary School in Shoreline, Superintendent Sue Walker announced. His appointment is effective July 1 and is subject to approval by the Shoreline School Board.

He succeeds Laura Ploudré, who is leaving Parkwood after 11 years as principal to pursue new opportunities in education.

Doug has been the principal of Carnation Elementary School in the Riverview School District since 2001. During the past 11 years the school has shown dramatic improvement and success in student learning in both academic and arts programs. 

Carnation was honored as a School of Distinction in 2010 for being in the top five percent of schools improving in reading and math. In addition, in 2011 Carnation was recognized by Arts Ed. Washington and the Kennedy Center as a School of Excellence in Arts Education. 

Like Parkwood, it has become a model school for using the arts to improve academic achievement for all students.

Doug began his career in education as an elementary teacher in the Wichita, Kansas School District. After moving to Washington in 1996, he was an elementary teacher in the White River School District for five years. He received his bachelor and master’s degrees from Friends University in Kansas and his administration certificate from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma.

Doug has five children ranging in age from 12 to 21. Two of his children are from Ethiopia. In 2004 he spent the summer working and training teachers in a school in South Africa.