Salem, Oregon- The Oregon Association of Secondary School Administrators (OASSA), a subset of the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA) has named Brooke Mayo, assistant principal at Tualatin High School in the Tigard-Tualatin School District, as a 2026 Oregon Assistant Principal of the Year. COSA Executive Director Dr. Krista Parent surprised Mayo with the announcement during a school visit on Friday, December 19.

Mayo was selected for her equity-centered systems leadership, her ability to lead with courage and care in complex work, and her lasting impact on both student belonging and adult learning.

Since joining Tualatin High School, Mayo has strengthened the academic and cultural foundation of the school through her leadership in master scheduling, instructional systems, and equitable student support. She led refinements to student placement processes that increased access to rigorous coursework while ensuring students received timely intervention and support 

Mayo is widely recognized for her leadership in advancing student belonging through systems that respond to identity with dignity and care. She developed and implemented Student Identity Support Plans, initially designed for gender-expansive students and later expanded to include students with religious and other identity-specific considerations. This proactive, student-centered approach has since become a district exemplar for inclusive and responsive support planning.

As Tigard-Tualatin strengthened its anti-bias and hate response systems, Mayo was among the first building administrators to model what partnership and learning could look like at the school level. Her collaboration supported the piloting and expansion of the district’s Education, Accountability, Solutions, and Healing (EASH) process, centering both accountability and healing for students who experienced bias in school.

“Brooke exemplifies what it means to be an Assistant Principal of the Year,” wrote Dr. Zinnia Un, Director of Equity, Inclusion and Multilingual Services, who nominated Mayo. “Her work has advanced TTSD’s collective mission of creating schools where every student feels valued, supported, and seen. She leads not from authority, but from humanity—and that is what makes her impact profound and lasting.”

Mayo is also deeply committed to developing staff capacity. Through coaching, calibration, and professional learning—particularly in areas related to identity-affirming instruction—she has helped educators grow their confidence, coherence, and ability to respond with care and integrity. Her leadership style is frequently described as steady, reflective, and grounded in trust.

“Brooke exemplifies the very best of assistant principals,” said Dr. Krista Parent, executive director of COSA. “Her leadership shows how equity-centered systems, thoughtful collaboration, and deep care for students and staff can transform school culture and outcomes.”

As a 2026 Oregon Assistant Principal of the Year, Mayo will be honored by COSA alongside other outstanding school leaders across the state and considered for national recognition.