Officials who decide on Portland schools

School board members, legislators, statewide, county and city officials, with the official contact details each government publishes.

PPS Board of Education

• Christy Splitt
  Board Member, Zone 1 · csplitt@pps.net · 503-916-3741 · Official page
  Votes on the rightsizing plan; term 7/2025-6/2027.
• Edward (Eddie) Wang
  Board Chair, Zone 7 · eddiewang@pps.net · 503-916-3741 · Official page
  Board chair who runs the meetings where rightsizing is decided; term 7/2023-6/2027.
• Michelle DePass
  Board Vice-Chair, Zone 2 · mdepass@pps.net · 503-916-3741 · Official page
  Board vice-chair who votes on the rightsizing plan; term 7/2023-6/2027.
• Patte Sullivan
  Board Member, Zone 3 · psullivan@pps.net · 503-916-3741 · Official page
  Votes on the rightsizing plan; term 7/2023-6/2027.
• Rashelle Chase-Miller
  Board Member, Zone 4 · rchasemiller@pps.net · 503-916-3741 · Official page
  Votes on the rightsizing plan; term 7/2025-6/2029.
• Rose Sandell
  Student Representative · rsandell@pps.net · 503-916-3741 · Official page
  Student representative on the board, chosen by high school students, who casts an unofficial vote; term 7/2026-6/2027.
• Stephanie Engelsman
  Board Member, Zone 6 · sengelsman@pps.net · 503-916-3741 · Official page
  Votes on the rightsizing plan; term 7/2025-6/2029.
• Virginia La Forte
  Board Member, Zone 5 · vlaforte@pps.net · 503-916-3741 · Official page
  Votes on the rightsizing plan; term 7/2025-6/2029.

PPS staff

• Deborah Kafoury
  Chief of Staff · dkafoury@pps.net · Official page
  Superintendent's chief of staff on the cabinet overseeing district priorities.
• Dr. Isaac Cardona
  Chief of Schools · icardona@pps.net · Official page
  Oversees school principals, who carry out closures, mergers and grade changes.
• Dr. Jon Franco
  Senior Chief of Operations · jfranco@pps.net · Official page
  Co-signed the district's April 2026 rightsizing letter with the superintendent and oversees operations including facilities.
• Dr. Kelli Charles
  Chief of Accountability, Equity, and Continuous Improvement · kcharles@pps.net · Official page
  Cabinet member over data and equity analysis, which the board's guiding principles require for any closure plan.
• Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong
  Superintendent · 503-916-2000 · Official page
  Leads the rightsizing process and will make the recommendation the board votes on.
• Margaret Calvert
  Assistant Superintendent, School Planning and Modernization · Official page
  Named on the PPS rightsizing page as a lead on rightsizing communications and school planning.
• Michelle Morrison
  Chief Financial Officer · mimorrison@pps.net · Official page
  Responsible for the budget and the savings estimates behind rightsizing.
• Nichole Watson
  Senior Director, Family & Community Engagement (FACE) · nwatson2@pps.net · Official page
  Leads the team that runs rightsizing community meetings and announcements.
• Rosanne Powell
  Senior Board Manager · rpowell@pps.net · 503-916-3741 · Official page
  Runs the Board Office and is the contact for public comment questions.
• Sharon Toncray
  Chief Legal Officer · stoncray@pps.net · Official page
  The district's chief lawyer, responsible for following closure and public meeting rules.
• Tom Odgers
  Chief of Integrated Operations · todgers@pps.net · Official page
  Cabinet member over district operations affected by building and boundary changes.

Oregon House

• Andrea Valderrama
  State Representative, House District 47 · Rep.AndreaValderrama@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1447 · Official page
  Represents House District 47 (outer East Portland) and sits on the Ways and Means Committee, which writes the state school budget.
• April Dobson
  State Representative, House District 39 · Rep.AprilDobson@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1439 · Official page
  Vice-chair of the House Education Committee.
• Ben Bowman
  State Representative, House District 25 · Rep.BenBowman@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1425 · Official page
  Leads the House majority caucus and sits on the Ways and Means Committee, which writes the state school budget.
• Boomer Wright
  State Representative, House District 9 · Rep.BoomerWright@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1409 · Official page
  Sits on the House Education Committee and the Ways and Means education subcommittee.
• Dacia Grayber
  State Representative, House District 28 · Rep.DaciaGrayber@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1428 · Official page
  Represents House District 28 (Southwest and downtown Portland) and sits on the Joint Committee on Legislative Audits.
• Daniel Nguyễn
  State Representative, House District 38 · Rep.DanielNguyen@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1438 · Official page
  Represents House District 38, which includes Portland's South Waterfront plus Lake Oswego.
• Darin Harbick
  State Representative, House District 12 · Rep.DarinHarbick@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1412 · Official page
  Sits on the House Education Committee.
• David Gomberg
  State Representative, House District 10 · Rep.DavidGomberg@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1410 · Official page
  Serves as Speaker Pro Tempore and co-vice chair of the Ways and Means Committee, which writes the state school budget.
• Dwayne Yunker
  State Representative, House District 3 · Rep.DwayneYunker@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1403 · Official page
  Sits on the Ways and Means subcommittee that writes the K-12 education budget.
• Emily McIntire
  State Representative, House District 56 · Rep.EmilyMcIntire@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1456 · Official page
  Vice-chair of the House Education Committee.
• Gregory Smith
  State Representative, House District 57 · Rep.GregSmith@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1457 · Official page
  Co-vice chair of the Ways and Means Committee, which writes the state school budget.
• Julie Fahey
  State Representative, House District 14 · Rep.JulieFahey@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1414 · Official page
  As Speaker, she leads the Oregon House and decides which committees education bills go to.
• Kim Wallan
  State Representative, House District 6 · Rep.KimWallan@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1406 · Official page
  Co-vice chair of the Joint Committee on Legislative Audits, which reviews state audits including audits of school spending.
• Lamar Wise
  State Representative, House District 48 · Rep.LamarWise@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1448 · Official page
  Represents House District 48, which covers outer Southeast Portland and north Clackamas County.
• Lisa Fragala
  State Representative, House District 8 · Rep.LisaFragala@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1408 · Official page
  Sits on the House Education Committee.
• Lucetta Elmer
  State Representative, House District 24 · Rep.LucettaElmer@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1424 · Official page
  Leads the House Republican caucus and sits on the Ways and Means Committee, which writes the state school budget.
• Mari Watanabe
  State Representative, House District 34 · Rep.MariWatanabe@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1434 · Official page
  Represents House District 34, which includes a small part of Northwest Portland plus Bethany and Cedar Mill.
• Mark Gamba
  State Representative, House District 41 · Rep.MarkGamba@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1441 · Official page
  Represents House District 41, which covers the Sellwood area of Southeast Portland plus Milwaukie.
• Ricki Ruiz
  State Representative, House District 50 · Rep.RickiRuiz@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1450 · Official page
  Co-chairs the Ways and Means subcommittee that writes the K-12 education budget.
• Rob Nosse
  State Representative, House District 42 · Rep.RobNosse@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1442 · Official page
  Represents House District 42 (inner Southeast Portland) and sits on the Ways and Means Committee, which writes the state school budget.
• Sarah Finger McDonald
  State Representative, House District 16 · Rep.SarahFingerMcDonald@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1416 · Official page
  Sits on the House Education Committee.
• Shannon Isadore
  State Representative, House District 33 · Rep.ShannonIsadore@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1433 · Official page
  Represents House District 33 (Northwest Portland), which overlaps Portland Public Schools.
• Sue Rieke Smith
  State Representative, House District 26 · Rep.SueRiekeSmith@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1426 · Official page
  Sits on the House Education Committee.
• Susan McLain
  State Representative, House District 29 · Rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1429 · Official page
  Sits on the Ways and Means subcommittee that writes the K-12 education budget.
• Tawna D. Sanchez
  State Representative, House District 43 · Rep.TawnaSanchez@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1443 · Official page
  Co-chairs the Ways and Means Committee, which writes the state school budget, and the Legislative Audits Committee; represents North and Northeast Portland.
• Thủy Trần
  State Representative, House District 45 · Rep.ThuyTran@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1445 · Official page
  Represents House District 45 (Northeast Portland), which overlaps Portland Public Schools.
• Travis Nelson
  State Representative, House District 44 · Rep.TravisNelson@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1444 · Official page
  Represents House District 44 (North and Northeast Portland), which overlaps Portland Public Schools.
• Willy Chotzen
  State Representative, House District 46 · Rep.WillyChotzen@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1446 · Official page
  Represents House District 46 (Southeast Portland, including the Jade District), which overlaps Portland Public Schools.
• Zach Hudson
  State Representative, House District 49 · Rep.ZachHudson@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1449 · Official page
  Chairs the House Education Committee and sits on the Ways and Means education subcommittee.

Oregon Senate

• Bruce Starr
  State Senator, Senate District 12 · Sen.BruceStarr@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1712 · Official page
  Leads the Senate Republican caucus and sits on the Ways and Means Committee, which writes the state school budget.
• Courtney Neron Misslin
  State Senator, Senate District 13 · Sen.CourtneyNeronMisslin@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1713 · Official page
  Sits on the Senate Education Committee.
• Fred Girod
  State Senator, Senate District 9 · Sen.FredGirod@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1709 · Official page
  Co-vice chair of the Ways and Means Committee, which writes the state school budget.
• James I. Manning Jr.
  State Senator, Senate District 7 · Sen.JamesManning@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1707 · Official page
  Serves as Senate President Pro Tempore and sits on the Ways and Means Committee, which writes the state school budget.
• Janeen Sollman
  State Senator, Senate District 15 · Sen.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1715 · Official page
  Co-chairs the Ways and Means subcommittee that writes the K-12 education budget and sits on the Senate Education Committee.
• Kate Lieber
  State Senator, Senate District 14 · Sen.KateLieber@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1714 · Official page
  Co-chairs the Ways and Means Committee, which writes the state school budget, and the Legislative Audits Committee; her district includes part of Southwest Portland.
• Kathleen Taylor
  State Senator, Senate District 21 · Sen.KathleenTaylor@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1721 · Official page
  Represents Senate District 21 (Southeast Portland and Milwaukie) and sits on the Joint Committee on Legislative Audits.
• Kayse Jama
  State Senator, Senate District 24 · Sen.KayseJama@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1724 · Official page
  Leads the Senate majority caucus and represents Senate District 24, which covers East Portland.
• Khanh Pham
  State Senator, Senate District 23 · Sen.KhanhPham@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1723 · Official page
  Represents Senate District 23, which covers parts of Northeast and Southeast Portland.
• Lew Frederick
  State Senator, Senate District 22 · Sen.LewFrederick@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1722 · Official page
  Chairs the Senate Education Committee, sits on the Ways and Means education subcommittee, and represents North and Northeast Portland.
• Lisa Reynolds
  State Senator, Senate District 17 · Sen.LisaReynolds@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1717 · Official page
  Represents Senate District 17, which includes Northwest Portland.
• Noah Robinson
  State Senator, Senate District 2 · Sen.NoahRobinson@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1702 · Official page
  Sits on the Senate Education Committee and is co-vice chair of the Joint Committee on Legislative Audits.
• Rob Wagner
  State Senator, Senate District 19 · Sen.RobWagner@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1600 · Official page
  As Senate President, he leads the Oregon Senate and decides which committees bills go to; his district includes Portland's South Waterfront.
• Suzanne Weber
  State Senator, Senate District 16 · Sen.SuzanneWeber@oregonlegislature.gov · 503-986-1716 · Official page
  Vice-chair of the Senate Education Committee and sits on the Ways and Means education subcommittee.

Governor's office

• Tina Kotek
  Governor of Oregon · 503-378-4582 · Official page
  Proposes the state budget, including school funding, signs or vetoes education bills, and appoints the State Board of Education.

Oregon Department of Education

• Dr. Charlene Williams
  Director, Oregon Department of Education · ode.FrontDesk@ode.oregon.gov · 503-947-5600 · Official page
  Leads the state agency that distributes school funding, collects enrollment data and carries out SB 141 accountability.
• Michael Wiltfong
  School Finance and School Facilities Director, Oregon Department of Education · 971-208-0426 · Official page
  Directs the state office that handles school funding formulas and school facilities programs.

State Board of Education

• Bridgett Wheeler
  State Board of Education, Member · StateBoard.PublicEmail@ode.oregon.gov · 503-947-5600 · Official page
  Sits on the State Board of Education, which sets statewide rules for Oregon public schools.
• Cynthia Richardson
  State Board of Education, 2nd Vice-Chair · StateBoard.PublicEmail@ode.oregon.gov · 503-947-5600 · Official page
  2nd Vice-Chair of the State Board of Education, which sets statewide rules for Oregon public schools.
• Jennifer Scurlock
  State Board of Education, Chair · StateBoard.PublicEmail@ode.oregon.gov · 503-947-5600 · Official page
  Chair of the State Board of Education, which sets statewide rules for Oregon public schools.
• Julie Bettles
  State Board of Education, Member · StateBoard.PublicEmail@ode.oregon.gov · 503-947-5600 · Official page
  Sits on the State Board of Education, which sets statewide rules for Oregon public schools.
• Libra Forde
  State Board of Education, Member · StateBoard.PublicEmail@ode.oregon.gov · 503-947-5600 · Official page
  Sits on the State Board of Education, which sets statewide rules for Oregon public schools.
• Mona Khalil
  State Board of Education, Member · StateBoard.PublicEmail@ode.oregon.gov · 503-947-5600 · Official page
  Sits on the State Board of Education, which sets statewide rules for Oregon public schools.
• Sarah Wofford
  State Board of Education, Member · StateBoard.PublicEmail@ode.oregon.gov · 503-947-5600 · Official page
  Sits on the State Board of Education, which sets statewide rules for Oregon public schools.
• Shimiko Montgomery
  State Board of Education, Vice-Chair · StateBoard.PublicEmail@ode.oregon.gov · 503-947-5600 · Official page
  Vice-Chair of the State Board of Education, which sets statewide rules for Oregon public schools.
• Vicky López Sánchez
  State Board of Education, Member · StateBoard.PublicEmail@ode.oregon.gov · 503-947-5600 · Official page
  Sits on the State Board of Education, which sets statewide rules for Oregon public schools.

Secretary of State

• Tobias Read
  Oregon Secretary of State · oregon.sos@sos.oregon.gov · 503-986-1523 · Official page
  Oversees the state Audits Division, which has audited PPS and plans a 2026-27 audit of how the state funds school districts.

Multnomah County

• Jessica Vega Pederson
  Multnomah County Chair · mult.chair@multco.us · 503-988-3308 · Official page
  Leads the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, which funds services in schools such as SUN Community Schools and Preschool for All.
• Julia Brim-Edwards
  Multnomah County Commissioner, District 3 · district3@multco.us · 503-988-5217 · Official page
  Sits on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, which funds services in schools such as SUN Community Schools and Preschool for All.
• Meghan Moyer
  Multnomah County Commissioner, District 1 · district1@multco.us · 503-988-5220 · Official page
  Sits on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, which funds services in schools such as SUN Community Schools and Preschool for All.
• Shannon Singleton
  Multnomah County Commissioner, District 2 · district2@multco.us · 503-988-5219 · Official page
  Sits on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, which funds services in schools such as SUN Community Schools and Preschool for All.
• Vince Jones-Dixon
  Multnomah County Commissioner, District 4 · district4@multco.us · 503-988-5213 · Official page
  Sits on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, which funds services in schools such as SUN Community Schools and Preschool for All.

City of Portland

• Angelita Morillo
  Portland City Councilor, District 3 · Councilor.Morillo@portlandoregon.gov · Official page
  Represents Portland City Council District 3, which includes schools in the Portland Public Schools system.
• Candace Avalos
  Portland City Councilor, District 1 · Councilor.Avalos@portlandoregon.gov · 503-823-4350 · Official page
  Represents Portland City Council District 1, which includes schools in the Portland Public Schools system.
• Dan Ryan
  Portland City Councilor, District 2 · Councilor.Ryan@portlandoregon.gov · Official page
  Represents Portland City Council District 2, which includes schools in the Portland Public Schools system.
• Elana Pirtle-Guiney
  Portland City Councilor, District 2 · Councilor.Pirtle-Guiney@portlandoregon.gov · Official page
  Represents Portland City Council District 2, which includes schools in the Portland Public Schools system.
• Eric Zimmerman
  Portland City Councilor, District 4 · Councilor.Zimmerman@portlandoregon.gov · Official page
  Represents Portland City Council District 4, which includes schools in the Portland Public Schools system.
• Jamie Dunphy
  Portland City Councilor, District 1 (Council President) · Councilor.Dunphy@portlandoregon.gov · Official page
  Serves as Portland City Council President and represents District 1 (East Portland).
• Keith Wilson
  Mayor of Portland · Mayor@portlandoregon.gov · 503-823-4000 · Official page
  Leads the City of Portland's administration, whose parks, housing and transportation decisions affect school neighborhoods.
• Loretta Smith
  Portland City Councilor, District 1 · Councilor.Smith@portlandoregon.gov · Official page
  Represents Portland City Council District 1, which includes schools in the Portland Public Schools system.
• Mitch Green
  Portland City Councilor, District 4 · Councilor.Green@portlandoregon.gov · Official page
  Represents Portland City Council District 4, which includes schools in the Portland Public Schools system.
• Olivia Clark
  Portland City Councilor, District 4 · Councilor.Clark@portlandoregon.gov · Official page
  Represents Portland City Council District 4, which includes schools in the Portland Public Schools system.
• Sameer Kanal
  Portland City Councilor, District 2 · Councilor.Kanal@portlandoregon.gov · Official page
  Represents Portland City Council District 2, which includes schools in the Portland Public Schools system.
• Steve Novick
  Portland City Councilor, District 3 · Councilor.Novick@portlandoregon.gov · Official page
  Represents Portland City Council District 3, which includes schools in the Portland Public Schools system.
• Tiffany Koyama Lane
  Portland City Councilor, District 3 · Councilor.Koyamalane@portlandoregon.gov · Official page
  Represents Portland City Council District 3, which includes schools in the Portland Public Schools system.

Metro

• Ashton Simpson
  Metro Councilor, District 1 · 503-797-1700 · Official page
  Represents Metro Council District 1, which covers East Portland.
• Christine Lewis
  Metro Councilor, District 2 · 503-797-1700 · Official page
  Represents Metro Council District 2, which covers part of Southwest Portland.
• Duncan Hwang
  Metro Councilor, District 6 · 503-797-1700 · Official page
  Represents Metro Council District 6, which covers Southeast Portland and parts of Northeast and Southwest Portland.
• Juan Carlos González
  Metro Council President · 503-797-1700 · Official page
  Leads the regional government that manages the urban growth boundary and regional housing and parks funding in the Portland area.
• Mary Nolan
  Metro Councilor, District 5 · 503-797-1700 · Official page
  Represents Metro Council District 5, which covers North, Northeast and Northwest Portland and downtown.

U.S. Congress

• Janelle Bynum
  U.S. Representative, Oregon 5th District · 202-225-5711 · Official page
  Represents part of the Portland Public Schools area in the U.S. House, as listed on the PPS government relations page.
• Jeff Merkley
  U.S. Senator for Oregon · 202-224-3753 · Official page
  Represents Oregon in the U.S. Senate, which votes on federal education funding.
• Maxine Dexter
  U.S. Representative, Oregon 3rd District · 202-225-4811 · Official page
  Represents most of Portland in the U.S. House, as listed on the PPS government relations page.
• Ron Wyden
  U.S. Senator for Oregon · 202-224-5244 · Official page
  Represents Oregon in the U.S. Senate, which votes on federal education funding.
• Suzanne Bonamici
  U.S. Representative, Oregon 1st District · 202-225-0855 · Official page
  Represents part of the Portland Public Schools area in the U.S. House, as listed on the PPS government relations page.

Other

• Elizabeth Steiner
  Oregon State Treasurer · 503-378-4329 · Official page
  Manages state finances, including school bond programs, and sits on the State Board of Education as an ex officio member.