Deputy Superintendent of Public Instuction Vickie Fleming is leaving the Oregon Department of Education and becoming the superintendent of Redmond Public Schools.

"Vickie Fleming has done a great job as my deputy, and the Oregon Department of Education is stronger because of her management abilities," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo.

"I want to thank her for her leadership and vision. She has been a wonderful advocate for students, schools, and education service districts in the state, and I'm looking forward to working with her in her new position."

Fleming has been Castillo's deputy since 2004 and before that was the Associate Superintendent of the Office of Professional Technical Education. She also has served as a policy advisor to Gov. Neil Goldschmidt, Director of the Mid-Willamette Education Consortium at Chemeketa Community College, and managed youth correction and other programs for Willamette Education Service District. She has a Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Western Oregon University and has done graduate work in Educational Administration at Portland State University.

Fleming has signed a three-year contract and will make $120,000 annually. Redmond is a district dealing with major issues associated with community growth.

She is replacing retiring superintendent Gary Peterson.