Vancouver Public Schools introduces Rocky Torres-Morales as new superintendent
A new era for Vancouver Public Schools began Wednesday when recently hired Superintendent Rocky Torres-Morales took the oath of office during a ceremony at the school district's headquarters.
Wednesday marked Torres-Morales' first official day leading Clark County's largest school district and ninth-largest statewide. But he said the journey for his new role began in January when the Vancouver school board picked him following a nationwide search that included 40 applicants. Torres-Morales relieves Interim Superintendent Brett Blechschmidt, who filled in during the 2025-26 school year after Superintendent Jeff Snell's departure.
"I have been eagerly anticipating this day and the opportunity to begin the work ahead," Torres-Morales told the crowd in attendance.
School board President Wendy Smith said Torres-Morales, who most recently was an associate superintendent in Seattle Public Schools, emerged as the candidate "best positioned to guide Vancouver Public Schools into its next chapter" during the district's six-month search. Smith cited Torres-Morales' track record of student-centered leadership and commitment to excellence in public education.
"The board is confident in the decision that we made," Smith said. "We believe Dr. Torres-Morales is the right leader at the right time for Vancouver Public Schools."
Among Torres-Morales' immediate priorities is addressing the district's financial challenges, which prompted nearly 200 positions to be cut to address a $24 million deficit this year.
He plans to hold listening sessions as soon as August to gather community feedback and aims to visit every school in the district by Thanksgiving break in November.
"There's a lot of concern over the finances," Torres-Morales said. "That's where people's heads are at right now. We had to do a reduction-in-force process in the spring ... that was very painful for the community but necessary. So, really trying to figure out how we're going to navigate those waters moving forward."
Before serving in Seattle Public Schools, Torres-Morales worked as a school administrator in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. He started his career as a bilingual special education teacher in the New York City Department of Education.
Torres-Morales said his wide range of roles in public education, in addition to working in the business and finance sector previously, provide a good foundation to lead a school district. Additionally, while working as an administrator in Seattle Public Schools, he served as a classroom paraprofessional during the COVID-19 pandemic to fill in staff absences in the district.
"I loved it. ... I felt like I was back at home," Torres-Morales told The Columbian. "The job of superintendent is important, central office jobs are important, but you sometimes miss being back - at least for me as an educator - closer to the classroom. I actually really appreciated it, because I got the ability to be back in classrooms with kids and teachers."
Torres-Morales said he and his family were excited by the idea of staying in the Pacific Northwest after residing in Seattle. Specific to Vancouver Public Schools, Torres-Morales said he appreciated the district's emphasis on dual language (he delivered remarks in both English and Spanish) and the many programs the district supports, such as arts.
Outside of education, Torres-Morales' hobbies include bowling, where he recently rolled a 300 in the Seattle Pride League, and he's already joined an LGBTQ league in Portland.
His annual base salary is $305,000, which will increase each year by the state-funded inflationary adjustment, and his contract is for three years.
"Just the ability to really use some of my skillsets around business and finance, and academics ... to put the puzzle together for Vancouver Public Schools - so take on the challenge, but enjoy the challenge," Torres-Morales said.
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