GOSW Member Elected to Chair the Oregon State Board of Education

Kimberly Howard, a principal Corporate Social Responsibility specialist, takes on the prestigious role as chair of the State Board of Education, which is charged by Gov. Kate Brown to provide leadership and vision for Oregon’s public schools and districts by enacting equitable policies and practices that contribute to the education and life of every student.

“It’s a huge honor. I love having the opportunity to be on the frontline, putting the needs of students first when it comes to setting policy.” –Kimberly Howard, principal Corporate Social Responsibility specialist

Since she joined PGE in 2014, Kimberly has helped lead the company’s corporate engagement educational strategy in their Corporate Social Responsibility department and serves as a program officer for the PGE Foundation. She led the partnership between PGE and Portland Public Schools to create the first-of-its-kind K-12 climate literacy curriculum. She also leads the company’s successful collaboration with STEM Oregon.

“In addition to supporting PGE and the Governor, I had a very personal reason for wanting to join the board. I wanted to work to improve our schools so they’d be ready in 2021 when my boys start kindergarten.”

She’s proud of all the board has been able to accomplish, especially rule-making for Oregon’s Student Success Act, which the Legislature approved in 2019. The act calls for $1 billion to be invested in early learning every year, with a special focus on improving access and opportunities for students who have been historically underserved in our education system, especially Black, Indigenous, students of color.

Kimberly is proud of all the board has been able to accomplish, especially rule-making for Oregon’s Student Success Act, which the Legislature approved in 2019. The act calls for $1 billion to be invested in early learning every year, with a special focus on improving access and opportunities for students who have been historically underserved in our education system, especially Black, Indigenous, students of color.

Kimberly takes on this new role at a particularly challenging time. “There’s a lot of uncertainty about the school year ahead,” Kimberly said. “And this time of COVID is illuminating more than ever the importance of engaging students in a more holistic, equitable, and student-centered way.”

Congratulations, Kimberly. We are proud of your leadership!