Centennial School District Director Position 7 at Large
School boards set goals, establish policies, oversee the performance of district schools, and negotiate contracts. The state Board of Education sets broader educational policies and standards that local schools are required to follow.Qualifications: A candidate filing for a zone position must be a registered voter in the zone. For at-large positions, candidate must be a registered voter in the district. Candidates must reside in the district for at least 1 year preceding the election. Candidates are elected districtwide.Term: 4 years
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Pam Shields
(N)
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Rudie Watzig
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What skills and experience do you bring to school board service?
What is your understanding of the District’s obligations to comply with federal and state education policies?
How would you address the issues facing the District’s schools that you consider the most urgent?
Town Where You Live
Portland
Your Experience/Qualifications
I am now serving as the Vice Chair and former Chair of the Centennial School Board. I am a college instructor, an active parent and active union member. As a parent of three children and four grandchildren who attended Centennial schools from K-12, I had the opportunity to be involved as a classroom volunteer and a very active sports Mom. I have served on school committees, started a basketball association for grades 4-8, site councils, booster clubs, you name it. I want to continue to serve.
County
OR
Hard work and perseverance. When I make the decision to become involved, I am all in. To that end I have served not only as a board member, as an active participant in committees and opportunities to represent our school district.
@CENTENNIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT: Centennial School District (CSD) Board Member, Chair and Vice Chair, 2011-2025; CSD Budget Committee, CSD Strategic Planning, CSD Long Range Facility Planning Committee, CSD Facilities Plan Update Committee, CSD Boundary Review Committee, CSD Zone Boundary Adjustment Committee, and the district wide Equity Committee.
@YES FOR CENTENNIAL KIDS PAC (Bond Campaigns): 2016 and 2020 Steering Committees, PAC Treasurer for successful passing of 2020 Bond.
Our obligation is to comply, but also tailor those policies to the needs of our students and community. To that end Centennial's . mission is Collaborating in Community, Cultivating Equity, Inspiring Excellence. In addition, our vision is to build authentic relationships with our diverse community that equitably engages and honors all voices. To do that we are driven by our Strategic Plan Roadmap ‘27 and its four key priorities:
• Culturally-Responsive, Student-Centered Teaching & Learning
• Collaboration with Families & Community
• Professional Learning, Growth & Wellness; and
• Comprehensive Systems of Excellence
Planning for the future successes of all of students is key as a board member we support our staff to meet that challenge.
Being education centered at this point in my public service career, the three top issues for me are (1) school funding, (2) access/ attendance by all students, and (3) safety in our public schools.
Engaging our legislators in the discussion of adequate school funding since it is ultimately in the hands of our state legislators is key. Public testimony and working directly with our representatives is imperative.
Working with parents and students to understand the correlation between school attendance and their ultimate success in school and after graduation.
Safety, both physically and emotionally must be a priority. When a student enters our building they know they are in an environment that protects them from negative outside influences.
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