Travis Drake, former Prairie High School principal and current Director of Secondary at Battle Ground School District (BGSD), will become the new principal of Camas High School (CHS) starting the 2026-27 school year.
Drake has been an administrator for about 18 years and he has previously worked as a principal at several middle schools and high schools in the BGSD. He was also a graduate from Battle Ground High School (BGHS) and played basketball for the BGHS team.
Drake has served as the current Director of Secondary at BGSD for the past four years. While on the path towards becoming a superintendent, Drake realized he missed working with students and being part of a school system. He wanted to return to that environment.
“I want to work with students again because I enjoy the energy of being at a school,” Drake said. “When Camas opened up … I threw my name in the hat to see if this was a place that would be a good fit for me, and it worked out.”
Along with working as an administrator, Drake is also a former basketball coach. Knowing that CHS is a school with not just strong academic and athletics programs, but the performing arts as well, he is supportive of the many paths a student can take during their high school career.
“Even though I am a former coach, I am fully aware that there are many students who are doing amazing things that have nothing to do with athletics,” Drake said. “Ultimately, I want to support kids to connect to something outside of themselves and outside of the classroom because I think that helps themselves and their work in the classroom.”
The interview process was lengthy and involved many candidates with vast backgrounds of experience. Teachers, administrators, and even parents and students were involved in making the decisions on who would be the best fit to be the new CHS principal.
Derek Jaques, the main coordinator of the interviews for the new CHS principal, spoke about Drake’s qualities that led him to be chosen.
“[Drake’s] focus on relationships, clear systems, and high expectations for all students stood out,” Jaques said. “Just as important, Travis spoke with genuine enthusiasm about returning to the daily life of a comprehensive high school, being present with students, supporting staff, and engaging in the full range of experiences that make a school community thrive.”
Kelly O’Rourke, the current principal at CHS, also commented on Drake’s character throughout the interview process.
“Although I struggle with the idea of not being here myself, it does make me feel better that school will be led by a seasoned principal,” O’Rourke said. “In my interactions with Mr. Drake, he is personable and funny and you can tell [he is] very student oriented. I think Mr. Drake is the man to continue to lead the charge.”
After spending the last four years at the district office, Drake is looking forward to working with the students again and being in the Camas community.
“I’ve been in this area for a really long time, but I don’t live in Camas,” Drake said. “Becoming part of the community at Camas is probably what I’m looking forward to the most, and it’s what I’ve been missing working at the district office.”
