Top K-12 School in Oregon Hires Inaugural Director of Campus Operations
Oregon Episcopal School
Just 15 minutes southwest of downtown Portland sits Oregon Episcopal School (OES), which since 1869 has been educating students from around the world with a commitment to inclusion, purpose, service, and social justice. Situated on nearly 60 acres, OES is surrounded by wetlands and other natural elements within the diverse, dynamic, and thriving neighborhoods of Portland and Beaverton.
The director of campus operations would oversee four functional units, each with its own leader: facilities (custodial, grounds, and maintenance); transportation; safety and security; and a greenhouse project. The director of campus operations would not have any major construction projects to administer in the first year or so, which gave the director a chance to establish partnerships and connections with the community. However, the director would be a part of long-term campus visioning initiatives and would be eventually asked to serve as the school’s owner’s rep for any major construction projects.
In the nearer-term, the school had just completed a safety and security audit, and a director of safety and security eventually would report to the director of campus operations. While OES had no major incidents on campus, the new head of school — who was finishing his first year — wanted to be proactive to ensure that a school with over 50 domestic and international boarding students, a community parish, and an open campus remained diligent in its overall duty of care. Also early on, the director of campus operations would be asked to coordinate with department and division heads to prioritize and plan smaller-scale operational, facilities, and logistical projects.
Ideally, the director of campus operations would have been able to start prior to June 30, 2024 — when the outgoing director of facilities was scheduled to retire. If not, the school was prepared to keep the outgoing director of facilities on temporary retainer to ensure a graceful and smooth leadership transition. The director of campus operations at this revered and nationally acclaimed school reported to the head of school and served on the senior administrative team.
Oregon Episcopal School was thrilled to welcome C.J. Remmo to the position in the summer of 2024.
Meet the new leader
C. J. Remmo is a seasoned educator and operational leader with extensive experience in financial and operations management at The Potomac School, where he previously served as Deputy Chief Operating Officer. His background includes leading strategic initiatives, managing high-impact capital projects, and overseeing various operational departments. C. J. also holds advanced degrees in communication, which complement his relational leadership style and commitment to fostering community within educational environments.
