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To fully serve the community, the Mid-county Memo offers this section to showcase upcoming special events, celebrations of milestones in our readers' lives, those seemingly small accomplishments that often do not receive the recognition they deserve, and everyday events that should be shared with friends and neighbors along with opportunities to participate in the community. Memo Pad submissions for the June issue are due Wednesday, May 15. For best results, e-mail Darlene Vinson at editor@midcountymemo.com. Or mail submissions to 3510 N.E. 134th Ave, Portland, OR 97230. To leave a phone message, call 503-287-8904. The fax number is 503-249-7672.
Earl Boyles principal best in state
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| Ericka Guynes, principal at Earl Boyles Elementary in the David Douglas School District, is the Oregon elementary school principal of the year. COURTESY DAVID DOUGLAS SCHOOL DISTRICT |
Guynes has been with the David Douglas School District for 14 of her 16 years in education, the last five serving as principal of Earl Boyles. Earl Boyles serves one of the highest poverty areas in Oregon, with among the most diverse populations. Despite those challenges, student achievement at Earl Boyles has climbed under Guynes' leadership, with a strong focus on closing the achievement gap between underserved students and their peers.
In her short time at Earl Boyles, she has helped bring it from one of the most distressed schools in the region to among the top Title 1 schools in the Portland Metro area. The achievement gap has narrowed and in some cases even reversed. Guynes oversaw the introduction of professional learning teams and is the unquestioned instructional leader of her staff.
Under Guynes' leadership, parent involvement has increased as well as the parent expectations of the students. She created Parents United, revitalizing an active parent presence in the school, especially among underserved families whose parents had been disengaged in the past.
Guynes has taken the instructional lead of an initiative to incorporate a pre-kindergarten program at Earl Boyles. The Early Works Project, in partnership with the Children's Institute, seeks to create a statewide model of a pre-kindergarten through fifth grade school that includes services and resources for children from birth, as well as their families. A locally passed bond measure will allow the district to build an addition to Earl Boyles for pre-kindergarten classroom space, as well as a hub of community resources for families. Once complete, the new Earl Boyles will serve every pre-kindergarten child in its catchment area.
As an Oregon winner, Guynes will be honored at the annual COSA conference in Seaside in June.
Ott principle named middle school principal of the year
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| The Oregon Association of Secondary School Administrators and the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators has named Alice Ott Middle School Principal James Johnston its middle school principal of the year. COURTESY DAVID DOUGLAS SCHOOL DISTRICT |
Johnston was selected because of his work to improve the academic achievement of students. This past year, Alice Ott Middle School was named the only model middle school in Oregon by the Oregon Department of Education, based on student proficiency in reading, writing and math. Alice Ott is a Title I school and serves one of the region's highest poverty and most diverse populations.
Johnston is completing his 5th year as Principal at Alice Ott. He previously served as a middle school vice principal in the Beaverton School District. He began his education career as a middle and elementary school teacher in the state of Washington.
The award automatically places Johnston in the running for the national middle school principal of the year award from the National Association of Secondary School Principals. He will be honored at the 39th annual COSA Professional Development Conference in Seaside in June. He will also be honored this fall at the NASSP state principals of the year institute and awards gala in Washington, D.C.
On to state for Parkrose music programs
The Parkrose High School A-Choir placed first at the Northwest Oregon Conference Choral Festival to qualify for the state finals on Saturday, May 11 at George Fox University in Newberg. The PHS Band also qualified for the state finals and will perform at Oregon State University in Corvallis on Friday, May 10.
Local kid values his roots
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| The Parkrose community has nurtured Nathan Helgerson, a Portland Christian School senior, all his life. As he moves into adulthood, he plans to repay that support. COURTESY LIFE TOUCH |
When Helgerson transferred to PCS as a freshman, he found that he did not have to leave behind the community he loves. Although the academic rigor was more of an adjustment than he thought it would be, he has flourished in high school. His favorite classes are calculus and physics, and as an honor student and three-sport athlete, he describes himself as busy, yet he still spends time with the friends he made in elementary school, watching movies, snow skiing, and just hanging out. And he finds that he still has time to remain active in his community as a youth leader at church and an eager volunteer on community activities and mission trips.
Sports are big in Helgerson's life. During spring break he joined the PCS baseball team as they travelled to play in Arizona. He has been playing baseball as long as he can remember; he started playing as soon as he was old enough to hold a bat. For the first time this fall, he also played football and soccer. He was named first team all-league and first team all-state as a kicker in 2A football and helped his soccer team make it to the quarter finals at state.
Helgerson credits his parents with instilling in him a desire to always do his best and to believe he can do anything he sets his mind to. He knows his parents always have his back and the support he feels from his family keeps him reaching for his goals. His dad has coached him since he was eight years old, and the lessons he learned on the playing field are now life skills he plans to use in college.
After graduation Helgerson plans to study engineering at either the Oregon Institute of Technology or Oregon State University. He credits family, friends, and his community for his success. He greatly values the foundation that his parents gave him both at Parkrose and Portland Christian Schools. He is determined to stay connected to his community and to give back just as the community has given to him.
DeMaster named First Citizen
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| Jean DeMaster, right, executive director of Human Solutions, displays the plaque she received for being named Portland First Citizen for 2013 by the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors. Pictured with DeMaster is Carla Piluso, chair of the Human Solutions board of directors and retired Gresham police chief. COURTESY BILL BARRY/BARRYFOTO |
DeMaster, executive director at Human Solutions, was selected for the award by the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors¿ and was honored April 10 at the Portland First Citizen Banquet at The Nines Hotel. DeMaster is the 85th recipient of this distinguished award, created in 1928 to honor civic achievements and business leadership.
“When I see families in really desperate situations, I know if Human Solutions can help provide shelter and housing, they won't be suffering anymore. When people are waiting outside in the cold for the shelter to open, and you know that what they really need and want is housing, it makes me want to work harder to be sure that housing can be available for them,” said DeMaster.
The turnaround is gratifying, she said. “Many of the families are so miserable because they are literally living in their cars or in abandoned buildings,” DeMaster said. “We are happy we can provide shelter for them. They are so relieved at that point. That's what keeps me going.” Typically, families only stay in shelter for three to five weeks before being placed into housing.
Carla Piluso, a member of the Human Solutions Board of Directors since 1996 and its current chair, called DeMaster one of her personal heroes. “Jean is the champion for those who cannot always speak for themselves. Not only does she provide those in the greatest need with a voice, she gives them the strength and confidence to find, and intimately shout out, with their own voice. She has touched the lives of thousands,” Piluso said.
DeMaster was influenced at an early age by her grandmother, who told her to think about what she could do to make a difference. “Don't let anyone stop you,” her grandmother advised.
Over her career, DeMaster has volunteered her time to many different organizations, including the Oregon Shelter Network, the Portland Planning Commission, and United Way. However, the volunteer work she is most proud of is her part in the founding and early beginnings of Bradley Angle House. Founded in 1975, Bradley Angle House is the West Coast's first domestic violence shelter, as well as one of the first emergency shelters for survivors of domestic violence in the country. It still exists as a safe shelter for women and children today.
In 1983, DeMaster became executive director of Transition Projects, Inc., a position she held for 11 years.
DeMaster was also able to once again work on the issue near and dear to her heart: providing safe places for women. “When I first came to Transition Projects, the shelter for women was a corridor, just a hallway. There was a door to the outside that didn't close properly, so it let the cold and snow in. When I saw that, I knew my goal was to get homeless women a real shelter.”
She succeeded. In 1993, Transition Projects opened Portland's first homeless shelter and transitional housing facility that was solely for women. In honor of DeMaster's leadership, the shelter was named Jean's Place.
For the past 10 years, DeMaster has led Human Solutions as it provides housing and services to people in Mid and East Multnomah County - eliminating barriers to escaping poverty through emergency family shelter, job training, affordable housing, eviction prevention, and emergency shelter. On any given night, Human Solutions provides housing or emergency shelter for approximately 240 homeless families - and more than 700 homeless people.
“I have enjoyed my work immensely. It doesn't always seem like work; it just seems like what I want to be doing.”
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