A parent gets involved to advocate for students

Todd Thomas and his wife Shelley decided to move 10 years ago.  As parents of four children, they set out to find a community with a great public school system.  Newberg fit the bill.  While their children settled into school, Todd began attending Newberg school board meetings and getting to know the people and issues in the district.  It wasn’t long before he knew he wanted to serve on the school board himself.

In 2009, Todd, who works for NW Natural Gas Storage, ran for an open position and won the set.  He served his first four-year term, was re-elected to a new term in 2013 and currently serves as board chair. With more than five years under his belt, he’s still passionate about serving children through public education.

“Our future is our kids, and the majority of our kids will be served by the public education system,” Todd said.  “Let’s make it the best we can make it.”
Until he began serving, Todd didn’t fully understand the distinction between the roles of board members and the superintendent.  While the board can influence the quality of education through policy and budget decisions, it doesn’t direct day-to-day work in the schools.  And he notes that while he can influence the board, his voice is just one out of seven.

Todd is using his voice to ensure the district provides students with a well-rounded education, even as it adopts new state standards.  “I know you’ve got to be able to quantify how kids and teachers and the system are doing, but you can’t lose sight of the other things in an education that  broaden kids’ opportunities,” he said.

Reflecting on his service, Todd is excited to be guiding the district in a positive direction for the future.   And he beams when he recalls handing his daughter her diploma at high school graduation last year.

“It was hugely rewarding,” he said.  “I’m proud to be doing what I’m doing, and my daughters think it’s pretty cool, too.”

Written by: Michel Gregory