Principal Denise Reddinger

Welcome to Goldendale High School!

Denise Reddinger is very excited to embrace the community and serve the students, staff, and families of Goldendale as the high school principal. She has and is proud of her four grown children who live the Tri-Cities and Vancouver, WA. She has 12 grandchildren ranging in age from twin 2-year olds to 21 years. She is hoping some of her family will join her in Goldendale.

With a Bachelor's degree and Principal Certification from Washington State University and a Master's in Education from Heritage University, Denise joins Goldendale with over 32 years of experience in education, including 5 years of combined administrative experience as Dean of Students and Assistant Principal in Richland School District.

Denise's career in education began as the cheer coach in the Kennewick School District. Later she became a classified staff member. In 1995, when she earned her Master's, she began her career as a high school counselor in Richland. She served as the school and district department head for school counselors for several years.

In 2018 Denise was elected to the Executive Board of the Washington School Counselor Association (WSCA) as Vice President for two terms. She is currently serving as President until July 2025. She has been appointed to state advisories and committees, has testified during legislative sessions, and is serving on the School Counselor to Administrator (SC2A) Task Force with OSPI, AWSP, WSCA, and Hatching Results.

Denise earned her National Board Certification in 2020. In 2022, she was selected as the Washington State School Counselor of the Year in recognition of her comprehensive school counseling program (CSCP) implementation efforts and her leadership through multiple losses during the pandemic.

Believing in service to her community outside of school, Denise has been a reserve police officer, 4-H leader, you group teacher, foster parent, and has taken students and adults on several educational tours to Europe and Mexico.

As a solution-focused educator, Denise welcomes opportunities to heat about all of the good work happening at GHS, as well as concerns and their potential solutions from the students, staff, families, school board, and larger community. She is excited to continue partnerships and look for expanding programs with the community for the mutual benefits and growth of GHS students and businesses.