Coos Bay, Oregon —Eastside Principal Kara Davidson Named Oregon Elementary Principal of the Year

Kara Davidson, principal of Eastside School in Coos Bay, has been named the 2025 Oregon Elementary Principal of the Year by the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA) and the Oregon Elementary School Principals Association (OESPA).

A former elementary teacher in Coos Bay, Davidson has led transformative improvements in literacy and math through the strategic implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). Under her leadership, Eastside became a statewide model for the Science of Reading, reducing kindergarten reading deficiencies from 78% to 19% in one year.

She also champions social-emotional learning with programs like Character Strong, fostering a school culture built on empathy, resilience, and strong relationships.

Davidson will be honored at the COSA Annual Conference in Seaside this June.