Welcome Principal Pond!

Reynolds School District is excited to introduce you to your new Principal for the 2021-2022 school year!

Dr. Jeff Pond is a native Oregonian who grew up and then began his academic career in Salem.  While he excelled in extracurricular activities such as athletics and making friends, his teachers reminded Jeff that “the rules apply to him as well.”  With that advice in mind, he went off to earn a Bachelor of Science in Education at Western Oregon University.  With his degree in hand, a thirst for adventure and knowledge, and his love of the Oakland Raiders and Athletics, he moved to California.  In the Bay Area he earned a master’s degree in Kinesiology from San Francisco State University where he also served as the Strength and Conditioning Coach and Assistant Track and Field Coach for the SFSU athletic department. 

Dr. Pond began teaching in the San Francisco Bay Area as a physical education teacher and athletic director in 2001.  After 10 years of living the California dream, he returned to Oregon and began his career as  an administrator moving from teaching PE to working as an assistant principal with the Salem-Keizer School District.  After a life changing trip to Mexico in which he married his wife who is also an educator, Dr. Pond was offered a job with the Department of Defense as an assistant principal in Mannheim, Germany in 2009.  He spent the next 10 years living and working in Germany while serving the military-connected children and community. 

While in Germany, he welcomed two daughters, Lennon (now 10) and Lucy (now 8) as well as two cats, Rogue and Buttercup, into the family.  Dr. Pond enjoyed traveling Europe, spending time with his family and supporting the military-connected child.  During this time, he also worked diligently to continue to grow his own academic professional knowledge and in October of 2017 he received his doctorate in Educational Leadership from Northcentral University.  In the summer of 2019, he and his family returned to the United States and spent the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky while continuing to navigate the educational process as an assistant principal for the students and families stationed at US Garrison Fort Knox. 

After 12 years away from home, Dr. Pond is excited to be returning to a place he loves to serve as the new principal of the Hartley Elementary School. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge, sense of humor, and compassion for the hard work each educator and support staff does to ensure all students are provided with the best possible education and opportunities to grow as learners and global citizens. 

Welcome Dr. Pond!

The Hartley Hornets are excited to welcome you into the nest and look forward to meeting in person in the fall!