Statewide Leaders Panel
Richard C. Alexander, Chair – Founder, Viking Industries
Swati Adarkar – Children’s Institute
Thomas Aschenbrener – Northwest Health Foundation
Victor Atiyeh – Former Governor, State of Oregon
Julia Brim-Edwards – Nike
Rich Brown – Bank of America
Martha Brooks – Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Oregon
Duncan Campbell – The Campbell Group
Susan Castillo - Superintendent of Public Instruction
John Castles – MJ Murdock Charitable Trust
Carolyn Chambers – Chambers Communications Corp.
Robin Christian – Children First for Oregon
Theressa Davis – Comcast Cable
Gun Denhart – Business and Civic Leader
Gene Derfler – Legislative and Business Leader
Carol Dillin – Portland General Electric
Jonah Edelman – Stand for Children
Don Frisbee – Business and Civic Leader
Joyce Furman – Civic Leader
Ray Guenther – Business and Civic Leader
Pastor W.G. Hardy – Highland United Church of Christ
Lyn Hennion – Strand, Atkinson, Williams & York, Inc.
Teresa Hogue – Cascade Center for Community Governance
Jim Jeddeloh – Perkins & Company
Al Jubitz – Jubitz Family Foundation
Ray Jubitz – Jubitz Family Foundation
Mickey Lansing – Oregon Commission on Children and Families
Irving Levin – Genesis Financial Solutions
Dennis Maloney – in memoriam
Patricia Martinez-Orozco – Oregon Council for Hispanic Advancement
Pat McCormick – Conkling, Fiskum & McCormick
Donna Middleton – Civic Leader
Lisa Naito – Multnomah County Commissioner
Steve Patterson – Portland Trail Blazers
Isaac Regenstreif – Foundation and community leader
Barbara Roberts – Former Governor, State of Oregon
James Sager – Policy Advisor to Governor Kulongoski
Ruth Scott – Innovation Partners
Linda Shelk – Civic Leader
Tripp Somerville – Portland Schools Foundation
Brent Stewart – United Way of the Columbia Willamette
John Sweet – Sause Brothers Ocean Towing Company
Bill Thorndike – Medford Fabrication
Ken Thrasher – Compli
Jim Torrey – Business and Civic Leader
Donald Washburn – Business and Civic Leader
Janet Webster – Hatfield Science Center
Gary Withers – Concordia University
Dick Withnell – Withnell Motor Company
Linda Wright – Civic Leader

Elise Brown – Campaign Manager

What is Ready for School ?
The Ready for School public awareness campaign is led by a group of committed Oregonians, including top business leaders, who are driven by the urgent need to adequately prepare our children to succeed in school and life. The campaign informs Oregonians about the significant benefits of investing in high quality early education – for our children’s future and the future of Oregon’s workforce, economy and quality of life. The campaign’s goal is to make sure all children have access to high quality pre-kindergarten, starting with those most in need.

Why do we need Ready for School?
Oregon’s children need Ready for School.
One in five starts school unprepared. Ninety percent of brain development happens by age 6. So, children who start behind, stay behind and are not likely to catch up. We know that if kids aren’t reading by third grade they aren’t likely to graduate. The solution is simple: high quality pre-kindergarten. It’s the best strategy for closing the achievement gap. Yet, Oregon ranks 40th in the nation for the number of kids enrolled.

Oregon’s economy needs Ready for School. Money invested in early intervention significantly cuts expenditures for social services, remedial education, criminal justice, unemployment and more. And by investing in early childhood, we develop a strong competitive workforce, further strengthening Oregon’s economy.

How is Ready for School going to make a difference?
The Children’s Institute has led two years of intensive early childhood research which reveals the best strategy for giving kids a solid chance to succeed in school and life -- high-quality pre-kindergarten. Now this research is the driving force to expand a program that’s already proven successful: Oregon Head Start Pre-K. Research proves that Head Start programs are effective in leveling the playing field. But here in Oregon, over 40% of low-income kids who are eligible can’t get in because of limited funding. That’s why Ready for School is working to make this a top state funding priority.

Who is Involved?
Ready for School is led by a statewide Leaders Panel made up of business, philanthropic and civic leaders. (Please see other side for a complete member list.) Their efforts are supported by a growing coalition of business, educational, philanthropic and other private and public organizations. The Children’s Institute provides research and communications expertise.