A Message from Superintendent
Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong

October 22, 2024

Dear Portland Public Schools community: 

As we approach the November 2024 election, I want to take a moment to reflect on our journey, starting with the challenges we faced during the tumultuous 2020 election and the pandemic that followed. These four years tested our resolve, and many of us experienced fear and uncertainty. Here in Portland, we saw a racial reckoning that has yielded changes across our city, including the renaming of some of our public schools, to better reflect our values. In these moments of adversity and confronting painful parts of our history, we found hope and strength in our community.

On the eve of another election, I am immensely proud of our public schools' role in nurturing informed citizens who contribute positively to our society. We take our responsibility seriously to empower our students to think critically, embrace diversity, and participate actively in our democratic processes. To that end, we are guided by our unique, comprehensive portrait of the citizens who will vote in the decades to come. 

We are fortunate that here in Oregon, our predecessors created the vote-by-mail election system that brings families together at the kitchen table to discuss our shared future, and makes voting more accessible to all eligible voters. I urge each of you to engage, educate, and encourage one another to participate in this pivotal moment. This election isn’t just about candidates; it’s about our values and our vision for the future. 

Let’s come together as a community, support our democratic process, and make our voices heard. I invite you to read our Elections Toolkit and share with others. Together, we can pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future for all of our students.

Together, we rise.
Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong
Superintendent, Portland Public Schools