Klamath Falls City Schools

10/14/2026

Join us for our next Title VI Parent Committee Meeting.

10/13/2026

Klamath Union Hall of Fame 2026 honors five generations of Pelican athletic excellence

Klamath Union High School welcomed five former student-athletes into its Pelican Hall of Fame on Friday, celebrating their accomplishments in athletics and the lasting impact of the people, relationships and experiences that shaped their lives.

The 2026 inductees were Don Mills, Bill Thomas, Ronnie Henderson, Dori Miller and Gabe Ovgard, representing different eras of KU athletics and a range of achievements spanning high school competition, collegiate sports, professional careers and decades of coaching.

During the ceremony, KU Athletic Director Tyler Baker introduced each inductee and shared their athletic accomplishments, personal milestones and contributions to their communities. The inductees and their families also reflected on the experiences and people who helped shape their journeys.

“The KU Pelican Hall of Fame is not simply about wins, records, championships and awards, though those accomplishments are a big part of the story,” Baker said. “What makes today special are the people behind them. Their commitment, character, relationships and examples they have set for those who come after them.”

Baker said each inductee competed in different eras and faced different challenges but shared a common bond through their pride in representing Klamath Union.

Don Mills: A multisport standout

Mills was recognized for an athletic career at KU that spanned football, baseball, basketball and track and field from 1968 through 1971.

A four-sport athlete, Mills established himself as one of the school's standout competitors, particularly on the football field. During his junior and senior seasons, he earned outstanding offensive player, most valuable player and all-conference honors. He led the Southern Oregon Conference in touchdowns and rushing yardage in 1970 and again led the conference in touchdowns in 1971.

Mills also excelled in baseball, lettering all three years and playing catcher, pitcher and outfield. In 1971, he was named the team's most valuable player, and his talent eventually led to his selection by the Cleveland Indians in the 1973 draft.

One of the most memorable moments of Mills' athletic career came during the Babe Ruth World Series. Playing against Wellington, Kansas, he hit two home runs, including a walk-off home run with two outs in the seventh inning, giving his team a 5-4 victory in front of nearly 4,900 spectators.

Following the game, Babe Ruth’s wife approached Mills, presented him with a signed baseball and told him he reminded her of her husband, Babe Ruth, more than any other player. The recognition was a memorable moment in Mills’ baseball career and a testament to the impression he made on the field.

Following high school, Mills received football scholarship opportunities at Oregon State University and Southern Oregon University and was drafted by the New York Jets in 1973. A knee injury ultimately ended his playing career.

Today, Mills has been married for 54 years and has five daughters and 21 grandchildren. He continues to work at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base as an inspector for the Department of Defense.

"A lot of the people in this room, I have a relationship with. From my nephew Gabe, to having a beautiful relationship with Ronny, everyone inducted today truly matters in what makes Klamath Union the amazing place that it is," Mills said.

Bill Thomas: From state champion to lifelong coach

Thomas' athletic career at KU centered on swimming, where he established himself as one of the school's premier competitors before turning his passion for the sport into a decades-long coaching career.

A four-year swimmer who also participated in wrestling, baseball and track, Thomas earned four varsity letters in swimming and was named KU's outstanding swimmer twice.

He established school records in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard breaststroke. He qualified for the state championships twice, earned two state medals in the 50-yard freestyle and captured the Oregon School Activities Association state championship in the 100-yard freestyle in 1972.

Thomas continued swimming at the University of Oregon before transferring to Southern Oregon State College, where he earned two additional swimming letters and became a three-event All-American. He also competed as part of a school-record 800-yard freestyle relay team.

After earning a master's degree in science, Thomas devoted much of his career to coaching swimming and water polo. For approximately 50 years, he coached athletes primarily in San Antonio, Texas, helping swimmers compete at national and international levels. He continues to coach while semi-retired, working with a high school swim team in Tucson, Arizona.

During his remarks, Thomas emphasized that his induction represented the efforts of many people who supported him throughout his athletic journey.

“This isn't just about me,” Thomas said. “There's a whole lot of people that have a lot to do with this.”

He thanked his parents for making it possible for him to train and compete throughout Oregon and Northern California, along with the relatives who traveled to watch him compete.

Thomas also recognized the coaches who guided him and helped him develop the tools he needed to succeed, including Sharon and Bill Bright, Joe Cox, Earl Haupmann and Big King. He also thanked former athletic director James Johnson for attending one of his state competitions.

The induction recognized both Thomas' achievements as an athlete and his lasting influence on generations of swimmers.

Ronnie Henderson: A foundation built on mentorship

Henderson, a member of KU's class of 1982, was honored for a multisport career that included football, basketball, baseball and track and field.

From the fall of 1979 through the spring of 1982, Henderson earned 10 varsity letters in four sports. He received two most-improved-athlete awards and three most-inspirational-athlete awards, along with multiple all-conference honors in football, basketball and baseball.

During his senior year, Henderson earned honorable mention all-state recognition in football and basketball and was selected first-team all-state in baseball.

One of his goals, which he began pursuing in seventh grade at Ponderosa Middle School, was to become the first African American all-conference quarterback in Klamath Union history. With the support of his coaches, including Aaron Thomas, Henderson accomplished that goal.

His football career continued at Portland State University, where he was part of teams that reached the NCAA Division II national championship game in consecutive seasons in 1987 and 1988. Those teams combined for a 22-5-2 record and were later inducted into the Portland State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018.

Henderson went on to build a career spanning more than 35 years in sports and entertainment. His work has included sports and stadium naming-rights projects, sports video technology and events involving Major League Baseball, the NFL Combine, international world championships and the Olympic Games. He now lives in Barranquilla, Colombia, where he works as an international baseball scout.

Despite his accomplishments, Henderson focused much of his acceptance speech on the people who influenced his life, particularly longtime KU coach Ken Coffman, a moment he could not relent to hold back tears.

“My love for this man is incredible,” Henderson said of Coffman. “I am forever indebted to you for the love and energy and passion you put into this kid. Don (Mills), you really impacted my life as an athlete and I want to say nothing but thank for your influence to pave a way for me.”

Henderson credited Coffman's guidance with helping prepare him for life's challenges beyond athletics. He also expressed gratitude for the support of his former coaches and reflected on the absence of his father, who had continually encouraged him as both an athlete and a person.

“One big regret that I have is that my father is not here to see this, to be a part of this,” Henderson said.

He concluded by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to join the Hall of Fame, calling it a blessing to be a Pelican.

Dori Miller (Harris): A legacy beyond the playing field

Miller, a member of KU's class of 1984, was recognized for an exceptional career in volleyball, basketball and track and field, as well as her academic achievements and continued connection to the school.

Miller was the only inductee this year who had passed away.

From 1980 through 1984, she earned four varsity letters in each of the three sports and was named KU's female athlete of the year in 1984. In basketball, she helped lead the Pelicans to the state tournament in all four years of her high school career.

In track and field, she placed sixth at state in 1983 and fifth in 1984 and held KU's shot put record for more than a decade.

Her accomplishments extended beyond athletics. Miller served as sophomore and senior class secretary, graduated magna cm laude and was a member of the National Honor Society.

She also competed internationally as part of American junior Olympic development track teams, traveling to Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea for shot put and discus competitions. Through a KU basketball ambassador exchange, she traveled throughout Europe, competed in tournaments in Germany and stayed with a German host family.

Miller continued her education at Oregon Institute of Technology, graduating magna cm laude in mechanical engineering in 1990. She finished second in her class in a program where she was one of only two women.

Her career later took her to West Richland, Washington, where she worked with government subcontractors at the Hanford nuclear site, helping design nuclear waste flow and disposal systems. She also coached her three children in track and field and coached her daughters' youth basketball teams.

After her children finished their athletic careers, Miller made the eight-hour trip back to Klamath Falls to donate a large collection of track equipment she had accumulated through years of coaching to KU's track program.

Miller's siblings, Dan and Debbie, accepted the honor on her behalf. As Baker introduced them, the entire room stood and applauded in Miller's memory.

Speaking about her sister, Debbie described Dori as an unusually gifted person who combined analytical ability with artistic talent, kindness and a quick wit. She also spoke about the medical challenges Dori has faced and the determination she has shown throughout her life.

“The things that she learned in this building, on these fields, and that fighting spirit ... has helped save your life,” Debbie said, addressing her sister, in tears.

Debbie said the lessons her sister learned through sports and her experiences at Klamath Union helped shape the resilience she has carried throughout her life.

“Dori will always be a Pelican,” Debbie said.

Debbie recalled Dori enjoyed working through lengthy math problems and was also an accomplished artist who continued painting and creating throughout her adult life.

She remembered Dori's talents extended well beyond athletics, offering a glimpse into the personality and interests behind her achievements.

Gabe Ovgard: One year, a lasting impact

Ovgard, a member of KU's class of 2014, spent only his senior year at the school but made an immediate impression across three sports.

After transferring from Triad, Ovgard competed in football, basketball and track and field, becoming one of the area's top athletes in each.

In football, he was named Skyline Conference Offensive Player of the Year and earned first-team all-conference honors at running back and defensive back. In basketball, he earned first-team all-conference and all-defense recognition.

On the track, Ovgard was named Skyline Conference male sprinter of the year and entered the state championships with the classification's top marks in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and long jump. An injury in his first race ended his opportunity to compete for state titles, but his accomplishments remained among the best in the state.

Ovgard continued his football career at Oregon State University in 2015, playing in all 12 games on special teams and earning a starting role at safety. He recorded 23 tackles and intercepted California quarterback Jared Goff during his first defensive series. He also received Pac-12 academic recognition and was named a first-team Pac-12 All-Freshman selection by Phil Steele.

Recurring injuries eventually led Ovgard to step away from football, though he continued competing in track and field and playing basketball.

Today, he lives in Philomath, Oregon, with his wife, Riley, and their three children. He works as a growth marketing manager at Bitwarden and remains active through sports and outdoor activities.

During his acceptance speech, Ovgard said the honor was especially meaningful because of the people who welcomed him during his single year at KU.

“I was here only one year,” Ovgard said. “I wish I'd come sooner. It was such a great community. They welcomed me in and loved me.”

He thanked his teammates, coaches, teachers, administrators and family, singling out his parents for their support and his brothers, Luke and Jake, who helped him make his decision to transfer to KU.

Ovgard also thanked those who helped establish and maintain the Hall of Fame tradition, saying he was extremely honored to be recognized alongside the other inductees.

"My brothers Luke and Jake were incredible role models ... without which I would not have accomplished half of what I did athletically or as a person,” Ovgard said. "They helped me come here to Klamath Union, and I am honored to be standing in front of you all here today."

Klamath Union High School

10/10/2026

Klamath Union Homecoming Football Game 2026

Klamath Union High School

10/10/2026

Klamath Union Homecoming Parade 2026

Klamath Union High School Klamath Falls Police Department The City of Klamath Falls Klamath County Downtown Klamath Falls

10/09/2026

Mills Elementary School Students Share Their KFCNES Experiences

As part of a student testimonial series, Mills Elementary School students shared their thoughts about KFCNES, including what they have enjoyed and experienced during the first month of school.

Hear directly from Mills students as they reflect on their experiences and offer their perspectives on learning at school.

Mills Elementary School

10/08/2026

Ponderosa Middle School leads Klamath Basin in ELA proficiency

Ponderosa Middle School students posted the highest English language arts proficiency rates among Klamath Basin middle schools in both seventh and eighth grade during the 2025-26 school year, with staff crediting consistent instruction, teacher collaboration and students' willingness to put in the work every day.

The strongest growth came from Ponderosa's seventh graders. According to the school's 2025-26 assessment results, 47.9 percent of seventh-grade students reached proficiency in ELA, up from 33.8 percent the previous year, a 14.1 percentage-point increase.

Ponderosa's eighth-grade proficiency rate was 33.8 percent, down from 39.2 percent in 2024-25. Despite the decrease, the school's eighth-grade rate remained the highest among the Basin middle schools included in the comparison.

For Ponderosa Instructional Coach Brent Glidden, the results reflect more than a test score.

"The students made those gains because they did the work every day," Glidden said.

Ponderosa entered the 2025-26 school year after completing its first full year using CommonLit 360, a comprehensive ELA curriculum designed for grades 6-12.

But Glidden said the curriculum itself was not the sole reason for the results. Instead, teachers learned to recognize where students needed additional support and adjust their instruction accordingly.

"They were able to respond to where they saw students perform, and then they would adapt the next day's lessons," Glidden said.

That sometimes meant moving beyond what the curriculum initially called for when teachers recognized students were not yet ready for the next task.

One example came early in the year, when teachers realized students were not prepared for an assignment that asked them to write a paragraph. Rather than simply continue with the lesson, teachers created a scaffolded lesson to teach the skills students were missing.

Glidden said that ability to respond to student needs was one of the biggest contributors to the school's success.

The school also placed an emphasis on making sure students were active participants in their own learning.

Glidden said Ponderosa teachers focused on "opportunities to respond," encouraging students to actively demonstrate their understanding instead of allowing the teacher to do most of the work.

The school previously set a goal of giving students at least two opportunities to respond each minute. This year, Glidden said the school has begun referring to the practice as "ASRs," or "all students respond."

The focus, he said, is on asking a simple question: What does learning actually look and sound like in a classroom?

That emphasis remains visible in Ponderosa classrooms this school year.

During an ELA lesson this week, students worked through literary devices including hyperbole, repetition, imagery, metaphor and simile. Teachers modeled how authors use those devices to communicate emotion and meaning while students responded throughout the lesson.

In another activity, students worked with partners to examine "The Scholarship Jacket," identifying a claim, selecting evidence from the text and explaining their reasoning. Students then assessed their own understanding using a fist-to-five scale.

Other classroom activities included think-pair-share discussions, turn-and-talk opportunities, written responses and vocabulary practice in which students repeated words, worked through syllables and explained definitions.

The activities provide a current example of the kind of student participation Glidden said Ponderosa has emphasized.

Rather than simply listening to a lesson, students were repeatedly asked to make decisions, discuss their thinking, write, respond to questions and evaluate their own understanding.

That focus also extends to how teachers evaluate their own instruction.

Glidden said teachers took student engagement data seriously and were willing to adjust when observations showed students were not as engaged as they could be.

"If they had a lesson where they looked back at the data and an observer said, 'It looks like only 70 percent of your students were on task,' the teachers really took that to heart and said, 'How can I make it better?'" Glidden said.

That willingness to seek feedback extended to the teachers themselves.

Glidden said Ponderosa's ELA teachers regularly invited him into their classrooms to observe specific aspects of their instruction, including questioning, pacing, transitions and student engagement.

"They were always hungry to have feedback," Glidden said.

He said teachers were interested in refining their practice, including examining whether their questions were encouraging students to move beyond simply finding an answer in a text and toward deeper thinking and interpretation.

Ponderosa ELA teacher Alissa Cruz said the growth was especially meaningful because it came during the school's first full year with the new curriculum.

"To have growth in a year of a new curriculum was phenomenal," Cruz said.

Cruz also said the results should not be viewed as the accomplishment of the ELA department alone.

"This is not just the ELA department having this success," she said. "This is a success as a school."

Cruz said the school's emphasis on strong instruction across classrooms helped students flourish.

Alex Hernandez, another Ponderosa ELA teacher, said the consistency created by the curriculum is already noticeable as students move through the school.

Hernandez also taught seventh grade during the 2025-26 school year and said students entering this year are arriving with a stronger understanding of the procedures and skills expected in ELA.

"They're coming in at what seems to be a higher level," Hernandez said.

That consistency, he said, means teachers can spend less time reteaching foundational skills and move more quickly into grade-level material.

Hernandez said the difference was particularly noticeable when comparing the beginning of the 2025-26 school year with the previous year, when Ponderosa was piloting different curricula before settling on CommonLit 360.

The ELA instruction was a collaborative effort involving multiple teachers, including Cruz, Hernandez, Shari Glidden and Mandy Johnson.

Hernandez said Johnson split her time between ELA and social studies and taught some ELA classes, while Shari Glidden taught most of the remaining ELA classes in that group.

The seventh-grade students who produced Ponderosa's strongest results also benefited from continuity among their teachers. Several of the teachers who worked with those students last year remain at Ponderosa this year.

The eighth-grade results came with a different set of circumstances.

Glidden said the eighth-grade ELA class experienced significant teacher turnover during the 2025-26 school year. The students had four different teachers during the year, beginning with a teacher who left for health reasons after about a month. A full-time Ponderosa teacher then substituted for about a month, followed by another substitute and eventually a contract teacher who finished the school year.

Glidden said the lack of continuity made it difficult for the students to perform at their best.

Even with that disruption, the eighth-grade students recorded the highest proficiency rate among the Basin middle schools in the comparison.

For Glidden, however, the most meaningful part of the results is what students learned about themselves through the process.

He said students began to recognize that improvement comes from consistently doing the work rather than simply setting a goal for the end of the year.

"You saw their confidence increase as their competence increased," Glidden said.

He said writing offered one of the clearest examples. Students could compare their writing from the beginning of the year with later work and see that their writing had become more sophisticated and developed.

For Cruz, the academic achievement is also something the school should celebrate.

"Just like we get excited when we win a football game, we're excited when we place in the state for choir," Cruz said. "This is an exciting accomplishment that we also had a great finish in academics."

The results provide one measure of that progress, but teachers said the work behind them continues.

"Our curriculum is working and our staff are really dedicated, which makes it, like, hard to fail," Hernandez said.

For Ponderosa, the goal now is to build on the progress while continuing to examine what students need in the classroom each day.

"We had very strong instructors with very good instructional practices," Glidden said. "And the expectation is all the students do all the work every day, and that pays dividends."

"That's why we go to school is to learn," Cruz said. "All the other stuff is important, too, but this is important. It's a big deal."

Ponderosa Middle School

10/07/2026

Klamath Early Childhood Development Center joins local partners for Community Baby Shower

Holly Mancebo, principal of Klamath Early Childhood Development Center, and staff members Dena Solyst, MariJo Griffith, Nancy Rupp and Beatriz Ulloa were on hand Saturday, Oct. 3, for the 2026 Klamath Falls Community Baby Shower at the Klamath County Fairgrounds, connecting with families and other local organizations supporting young children in the community.

Klamath Early Childhood Development Center hosted a table where families could learn more about resources available to young children and their families, while also receiving a free baby washcloth to take home.

The free event brought new and expectant parents, guardians and families with young children together with local organizations and community resources, giving families an opportunity to learn about services available in Klamath County, enjoy a free meal and participate in a raffle for baby items.

The event was co-hosted by Cascade Health Alliance, Pregnancy Hope Center, Healthy Families Klamath County/UCAN Healthy Families, Oregon Child Development Coalition, Klamath Family Head Start and Soroptimist International of Klamath Falls, with Sage Community Healthcare providing check-in and media support.

Klamath County Early Childhood Intervention Cascade Health Alliance Pregnancy Hope Center Oregon Child Development Coalition Klamath Family Head Start Soroptimist International of Klamath Falls

10/06/2026

Ponderosa Eighth Graders Harmon, Coslet, Neathamer and Jannicelli Share Their KFCNES Experiences

A quick clarification about the “no raised hands” comment in this video:

Students at Ponderosa are absolutely allowed to raise their hands to ask questions, request clarification, or get help.

What the student is referring to is one of our instructional practices called All Students Respond (ASR). When a teacher asks an academic question, we do not want learning to depend on the same few students raising their hands while everyone else watches. Instead, teachers use strategies such as partner responses, whiteboards, written responses, choral responses, or other methods that require every student to think and respond.

The goal is not to limit student questions or discussion. It is to increase participation and give teachers much better information about what all students understand so they can decide whether to move forward, clarify, or reteach.

In short: students can absolutely ask questions. We simply want every student participating when the teacher is checking for learning.

As part of a follow-up student testimonial, Ponderosa Middle School eighth graders Beckett Harmon, Oliver Coslet, Natalie Neathamer and Lilly Jannicelli shared their thoughts on KFCNES, including what they have enjoyed, appreciated and experienced during their time at school this year.

Ponderosa Middle School

10/03/2026

https://kfalls.edurooms.com/newsletters/klamath-falls-city-schools/newsletters/kfcs-friday-news-flash-10-02-2026

Newsletters

10/03/2026

Conger Elementary unveils new inclusive playground following years of improvements

Conger Elementary School celebrated the completion of a new playground Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the latest improvement to the nearly century-old school.

The new playground was designed with accessibility and inclusion in mind, providing a space where students of all abilities can participate, play and feel a sense of belonging.

Klamath Falls City Schools Executive Director of Operations Daymond Monteith said the playground project began with a $50,000 grant from Klamath County Developmental Disability Services. That initial support helped the district begin developing a playground designed to be accessible to all students.

“A place where every child can feel welcome, participate, play, and feel like they belong,” Monteith said, describing the vision behind the project.

The ceremony concluded with Conger Principal Sara Johnson and KFCS Superintendent Dr. Keith Brown cutting the ribbon to officially unveil the new playground, with members of the KFCS Special Services Department, the superintendent’s cabinet and the KFCS Board of Education also on hand to celebrate the completion.

Monteith credited a number of people and organizations for helping bring the project to completion, including Klamath County Developmental Disability Services and Heidi Gaither, who attended Wednesday’s ceremony.

He also recognized ZCS Engineering & Architecture, including Josh Modin and Josh Boudreau, for designing and engineering the playground. ZCS also worked on the seismic improvements completed as part of the larger project at Conger.

Steven Davidson, a senior associate with ZCS and a professional engineer, was also instrumental in the engineering and design work that helped bring the playground project to completion.

Modoc Contracting served as the general contractor for the work, with Jude Marchessault, the company’s vice president, estimator and senior project executive, among those involved in the project.

Monteith said the new playground surface, which provides a soft, cushioned area beneath the play equipment, was one of the aspects of the project he was most excited about, telling those gathered, “probably what I’m most excited with is what you’re all standing on.”

The playground is only one part of a series of improvements made at Conger in recent years.

Monteith said the district used federal funding received following the COVID-19 pandemic to focus on infrastructure improvements throughout its elementary schools. At Conger, that work included heating and air-conditioning upgrades, bathroom improvements and new LED lighting.

The work represented an investment of approximately $4 million, according to Monteith.

While some of those improvements are less visible to students and families, Monteith said they have an important impact on the school environment, including providing climate-controlled classrooms, improved air quality and updated lighting.

Conger also received approximately $2.5 million through two seismic retrofit grants, according to Monteith. The work brought the 100-year-old building into compliance with current fire and life-safety codes and was designed to improve the building’s ability to withstand an earthquake.

The improvements could also allow Conger to serve the community following a major earthquake, Monteith said, including potentially being used as a shelter.

Monteith also recognized KFCS maintenance staff, including Jared Thompson, for their work overseeing the projects and checking on contractors throughout construction.

Monteith thanked Johnson and her school staff for their patience as construction took place over three summers.

“None of this is possible without a lot of help and support,” Monteith said during Wednesday’s ceremony. “It makes a huge difference for kids when they can come to school every day, and it’s climate controlled, and they have hospital quality air. They are able to play on this playground and enjoy it thoroughly.”

Joseph Conger Elementary School Modoc Contracting Co., Inc. Modoc Contracting, Inc. Modoc Contracting Co. Inc. ZCS Klamath County Developmental Disabilities Services