- Get link
- Other Apps
Interview by: Michelle Carter Smith
Corbett Middle School students have two exciting changes to look forward to in the upcoming school year. There will be a new principal in place and there will be a new campus location for students! Brian Lutes will be taking on the role of new principal at the middle school, and the students will be attending classes at the new campus located on Woodard Road in January 2024, if all things go as planned.
Brian was born in Topeka, Kansas, and lived there for the first two and a half years of his life. After moving to Eugene for six years, the family moved to Tigard, where he graduated high school. Brian's dad is retired as a Multnomah County conservation consultant and his mom taught middle and high school science for 30 years before retiring. Brian has one younger brother and remembers them both spending many hours at school growing up, both attending class as well as playing sports. Brian was involved with both track and football growing up and is still a huge football fan today. His dad is from Indiana, so many in the family are big Notre Dame fans. Just like in his childhood, Brian spends many hours at school today and loves the positive environment. As a child, Brian always knew he wanted to pursue something in public service. After high school, Brian attended Portland State Univ. and realized that it was not a good fit for him. He returned to school at Western Oregon Univ. and graduated with a degree in Education. He really appreciated the small-town feel of the college and knew that is what he wanted for a teaching location. In 2003, Brian was hired as a 5th/6th-grade teacher at Corbett Grade School, replacing Larry Swanson. Larry was Brian's 5th-grade teacher when he was a student in Tigard! Brian immediately fell in love with the small community of Corbett and the tight-knit community at the school. He loved having students for more than one year with multi-level education. He feels it builds relationships and allows the teachers to connect with both the students and also their families. Brian was hired the same year as Pete Leone and Rhiannon Young who are still teaching at the middle school. Brian taught at the grade school for six years and then the district moved the 6th graders to the middle school. Brian followed the students and became a Corbett Middle School teacher. Brian is a huge advocate for Outdoor School and has attended for 20 years with his students. This past year, his last year to take part, he was able to attend with his twin daughters! Brian will begin the 2023 school year as the new Corbett Middle School Principal and Intervention Specialist. As long as timelines stay true, the students and staff at the Corbett Middle School will be moving to the new Woodard Road location after winter break, beginning January 8, 2024. There will be five classroom teachers for the 7th and 8th grades, with the 6th graders now back at the grade school. Brian has enjoyed being on the main campus for 20 years. He will miss the community feel of that, but the silver lining of having middle schoolers on their own campus is they will now enjoy the freedom of "being themselves" on a middle school campus. In 2007, Brian met his wife Audrey on a camping trip on the Clackamas River. They married on 08-08-08! In April 2011 they welcomed twin daughters Annika and Jocelyn. The family purchased a home in the Corbett School District just before the girls started kindergarten so they could start in Corbett. They are still living in the same home and love being a part of the community. Brian has enjoyed being involved as both a track and football coach for middle schoolers as well as teaching. With an earned Master's degree in curriculum and instruction from PSU, he is currently working on his principal licensure through the University of Oregon. Brian is looking forward to working with a group of hard-working and very experienced and passionate teachers to make a wonderful place for Corbett Middle School students to attend school!