Sara Pocklington, Chair, Lake Oswego School Board

Today I've announced that I'm not running for a second term.

It's been a rewarding four years, full of growth and learning, and I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to serve our community on the Lake Oswego School Board.

The work of the board is collaborative, and I'm proud to have worked alongside so many smart, passionate, and dedicated board members and educators. A few of the highlights:

- Establishing LOSD's first district level Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee and Equity policy Rob Wagner for State Senate

- Adding student representatives to our board- Penelope, Anna Marie, Charlie, Eli, Liza & Mete, you've all set the bar high.

- Passing a renewal and increase of our local option levy to invest in our students and our shared future @ Neelam Gupta

- Hiring an incredible Superintendent to lead our district to the next level DrLora De la Cruz

- Crafting an updated strategic plan that leads with equity and well-being for students, staff and community Kirsten Jensen Aird

- Overseeing our 2017 bond investments, including a gorgeous new Lakeridge Middle School Liz Hartman

- Investing in our athletic facilities, including a stadium cover at Lakeridge High School (Go Pacers!) Bob Barman

- Partnering with City leaders to design a jointly funded community pool John Wallin

- Advocating in support of our students experiencing disabilities at every opportunity Lake Oswego SSPAC

- Sponsoring Oregon's first recovery high school as an LOSD charter school Harmony Academy

I am enormously grateful for the support of our community and the opportunity to serve on the Lake Oswego School Board. I'm truly looking forward to the hard, but important, work ahead and what I'm certain will be strong collaboration with my fellow board members, district administration & staff and community members, in service of our students and their families. A heartfelt and humble thank you for your support!

Wow! I am excited and hopeful after posting an early lead for position 3!! Awaiting final vote tallies, but so grateful for the amazing amount of support! Huge thanks to everyone that has given their time and energy to this campaign!

Still unsure how to vote for Position 3? Sara Pocklington will bring the diverse global perspective needed for growth. A recent headline from the LO Review reads: District urged to help foster ‘safe learning environment’.
Sara's take: Incidents of racial and religious intolerance continue to plague our middle and high schools on a more frequent basis than what has been reported publicly. Parent Sukhwant Jahj respectfully pointed out that the word diversity does not appear anywhere in the district’s strategic plan. I will bring a proactive approach to taking the steps that our district needs to prevent continued intolerance in our schools. I will leverage my experience living overseas and working for a multinational company to implement best practices for promoting inclusion.

Enjoyed meeting and talking with many of you this morning as we cheered on the amazing runners at the Lake Run!
Now, it is time to VOTE! Ballots are due by 8pm Tuesday May 16th.
They can be dropped off at Lake Oswego Public Library (inside drop box during regular library hours) or at City Hall (24-hour drive-thru drop box)

Thank you to our supporters who are "on board" and came out in support of Sara all over the city today! We appreciate you!!
Now is the time to make your voice heard, by voting. Ballots are due by Tuesday May 16th. Ballots can be dropped at the Lake Oswego Public Library during regular hours (drop box inside main entry) or anytime at City Hall (drive-thru drop box).

Still unsure how to vote for Position 3? Sara Pocklington will bring the equity lens needed for growth. A recent headline from the LO Review reads: Lawyers debate class action status for Title IX lawsuit against LOSD.

Sara's take: Having not received an adequate response from the Administration and Board, female student athletes felt they had little other recourse than to bring a lawsuit against the district for equal treatment. A less than ideal result for all parties involved in what should have been collaborative problem solving. I will couple my commitment to equity with my proven ability to collaborate and engage stakeholders to prevent this type of scenario from repeating itself.

"I'm writing to support Sara Pocklington for Position 3 on the Lake Oswego School Board. As a technology executive, I believe that Sara understands the criticality of providing robust science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education to all students.
As technology continues to advance and be pervasive in all global industries, the future of the U.S. economy is dependent on a technology-savvy workforce. In my experience, companies across the U.S. struggle to find well-qualified local candidates to fill high-paying technology jobs, and this is no different in Oregon.
According to code.org, a nonprofit dedicated to advocating at the state and local level to expand computer science education, Oregon currently has over 5,000 open computing jobs, which — when contrasted with the roughly 500 computer science graduates each year — demonstrates the enormous gap between our educational system and our workforce.
As the highest-ranked school district in Oregon, Lake Oswego should be on the forefront of developing policies and programs that lead the state in closing that gap.
Having worked with Sara, I am confident that she not only understands the importance of technology standards and curriculum, but that she also has the leadership skills necessary to propel our district into the future. The continued success of our schools requires us to never be satisfied with the status quo, but rather to continue innovating and seeking opportunities to elevate our game.
Please join me in electing Sara Pocklington on May 16."

-Jim Scholefield

"As a parent of both a typical baseball player and a track athlete with special needs, I know Sara will look out for both my children and will be an advocate for inclusion and equity for all students in athletics."
-Becky Owens

Research shows that kids who are connected to their school community have better academic outcomes. I will support continued investment in a variety of programs that foster a sense of belonging and improve academic outcomes.

"With the change in school start times, I am looking forward to working with Sara to ensure a smooth transition to a thriving after-school elementary strings program" -Laurel Boverhof

In my role as Technology Accounting Director at a Fortune 100 company, I understand the importance of preparing students for the economy of the future. I will advocate strongly for a comprehensive computer science and technology curriculum that starts at the elementary level.

"I am thankful for the active role Sara is taking to transform elementary students from consumers of technology to creators of technology"
-Rick Metz

Vote Sara Pocklington May 16th

8 more days to cast your ballot and make your voice heard! Kim and Chris Rigney are "on board", are you?

"Sara Pocklington is our choice for the Lake Oswego School Board, simply because our precious school system is at many crossroads right now and we need someone who is ready to bring the change that's needed to ensure its continued success.
Sara is a progressive thinker who wants to push for the absolute best for our children and our community. She supports technology, innovation and preparing our children for the evolving workplace in the 21st century. She is completely vested in LO schools because she currently has multiple children in the system.
As parents of two elementary students, this is extremely important to us. Not only is Sara in touch with the day-to-day concerns and issues from a parent perspective, but she is also aware of and embraces the long-term strategies that will be best for the future of Lake Oswego students and residents.
Sara has the passion, desire and work ethic to bring innovative change, and as a CPA at Deloitte and Nike for the past 12 years, she also possesses the financial background and corporate experience to help the district make wise investment decisions for years to come.
It is time we gain a fresh perspective, challenge the status quo and embrace the change that is vital to keep Lake Oswego schools moving forward."