Superintendent

Dr. Paul E. Coakley

Superintendent,
Multnomah Education Service District

Dr. Paul E. Coakley currently serves as the Superintendent of Multnomah Education Service District (MESD), a nationally accredited service district in Oregon. Under his leadership, the district continues its journey to strengthen systems at the regional level, while creating a high-quality learning experience for all.

The Multnomah Education Service District Board of Directors selected Dr. Paul E. Coakley as the district’s Superintendent, effective July 1, 2021. During his tenure, the district has established a shared vision and mission and articulated a multi-year strategic plan: Blueprint’28.
 
During Dr. Coakley’s more than eight years of experience as a Superintendent, he has been the only Black male in this position not only at MESD, but also in Oregon. He has dedicated his career to creating high-reliability school districts built on achievement, equity, access, and support — regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, or life circumstances.
 
Dr. Coakley began his school administrator career in 2008 as the Principal of Hudson Park Elementary School in the Rainier School District, located in Rainier, Oregon. After six years, he became Rainier’s Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction.

In 2014, Dr. Coakley joined the Centennial School District as Assistant Superintendent/ Human Resources Director. He then served as Superintendent of Centennial from 2016 to 2021. Before becoming a school administrator, Dr. Coakley taught in Portland Public Schools and in Champaign, Illinois.

A frequent presenter at state and national conferences on a variety of education topics, Dr. Coakley has served as a Professor at Portland State University in the Initial Administrative Licensure program. He currently serves as a Professor for the University of Oregon’s School of Education. He is also currently the Superintendent Advisor for the Oregon State Board of Education and serves on the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators Equity Board.
 
Dr. Coakley has a Doctorate of Educational Leadership and a Masters of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction, both from Portland State University. Dr. Coakley completed Harvard University's Advanced Educational Leadership Program in 2021.

​He was the sole recipient of PSU's Outstanding Leadership Award in 2016. In 2017, he received an Excellence in Educational Leadership Award from the National Council for Educational Administration.