Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus

Mission

To promote quality education for all students with emphasis on the unique needs of students of color.

Goals

To promote positive and effective relationships among school board members of color, their communities, political leaders, and OSBA.

To build and increase capacity of school board members of color and support a pipeline for people of color to run for school board seats.

To serve as a resource.

To develop, promote, and advance legislation to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for students of color.

To equip and advance board members of color to serve in the general OSBA leadership.

To build capacity of the general board membership in understanding the issues of people of color.

Membership

The Caucus members include any elected or appointed member of any public board of education in Oregon who are active members in good standing with the Oregon School Boards Association and identify as a person of color. To join the Caucus, contact Helen Ying.

Leadership

Caucus officers

• President - Sami Al-Abdrabbuh, Corvallis 509J
• Vice president - Neelam Gupta, Lake Oswego 7J
• Secretary - Helen Ying, Multnomah ESD 
• Treasurer - Sonja Mckenzie, Parkrose 3

Directors

• District 1 - Erika Lopez, Hillsboro 1J
• District 2 - Lori Theros, Klamath Falls City Schools
• District 3 - Michelle DePass, Portland 1J
• District 4 - Luhui Whitebear, Corvallis 509J 
• District 5 - Kathy Wai, North Clackamas 12

At-large representatives

• At-large 1 - Jessica Arzate, Multnomah ESD
• At-large 2 - Narce Rodriguez, Forest Grove

OSBMCC Bylaws, approved by the caucus membership, Sept.11, 2018 (PDF)

• Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus names new leaders
  Monday, November 16, 2020
  The caucus works for the needs of students and supports school board members.
• Standing together against racism and bias
  Friday, June 5, 2020
• Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus members discuss new school year challenges and aspirations
  Wednesday, September 4, 2019
  It’s an exciting time of year but also a time of added stress for some communities.
• Sonja Mckenzie chosen for Multnomah OSBA Board position
  Tuesday, August 20, 2019
  The Parkrose School Board member wants to help OSBA address equity issues.
• School board appointments put process in the spotlight
  Thursday, August 15, 2019
  Changing student demographics drive demands for younger, more diverse school board voices.
• School board members discuss benefits of diverse school leadership
  Monday, March 11, 2019
  Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus officers held a Friday Forum conversation about why schools need diverse leadership. They talked of the importance of having more voices with different experiences and backgrounds to make education decisions that benefit all students.
• OSBA members approve voting position for Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus
  Wednesday, December 19, 2018
  OSBA member boards approved giving the Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus an OSBA Board voting position.
• OSBA election includes adding Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus voting seat
  Tuesday, October 30, 2018
  OSBA election season kicks into high gear in November with the opening of member board voting. In addition to voting for OSBA Board of Directors seats, members will face two resolutions.
• OSBA Board forwards caucus voting seat issue to members
  Monday, September 17, 2018
  Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus's co-presidents say providing the caucus a voting seat would allow its members to advocate better for children of color at the state and national levels.
• OSBA Board creates nonvoting position for Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus
  Monday, August 13, 2018
  The OSBA Board supports efforts to increase the diversity of school boards and educators and to help underserved student populations.
• OSBA School Board Members of Color Caucus reaches milestone
  Wednesday, November 15, 2017
  The caucus’s mission is to promote a quality education for all students, with a focus on students of color.
• New Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus debuts
  Wednesday, October 5, 2016
  The caucus has a number of objectives, including promoting a high-quality education for all students and positive relationships between school board members of color.
• Caucus Timeline
  An overview of actions related to the OSBMCC

Minutes of the meetings of the Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus are listed below in date order. The files are in PDF  format. 

• January 19, 2019 membership meeting
• February 4, 2019 Executive Team meeting
• April 20, 2019 membership meeting 
• July 20, 2019 membership meeting 
• November 15, 2019 membership meeting 
• January 11, 2020 membership meeting 
• April 18, 2020 membership meeting 
• July 11, 2020 membership meeting 
• November 13, 2020 membership meeting 
• January 16, 2021 membership meeting 

Reports

2020 Educator Equity Report (PDF) 
The report by the Educator Advancement Council aims to provide a statewide evaluation of efforts to support racially affirming and culturally sustaining environments for every educator and student.

Emails and statements

Aug. 10, 2021 - Letter to Newberg School Board (PDF) 

April 29, 2021 - Letter to Oregon school board candidates (PDF) 

March 19, 2021 - Statement in support of Asian/Asian American community (PDF)

March 10, 2021 - Statement regarding Parkrose High School student volleyball incident (PDF)

Jan. 22, 2021 - Statement calling for the resignation of Clackamas County Commissioner Mark Shull (PDF) 

June 24, 2020 - Setting an example for our students (PDF)

June 6, 2020 - Black Lives Matter solidarity statement (PDF)

June 5, 2020 - Standing together against racism and bias

Newsletters

The OSBMCC newsletter is intended to provide school board members with ideas and resources on issues affecting communities of color. Please email questions, comments and submissions to Sami Al-Abdrabbuh, caucus president, at sami@corvallis.k12.or.us.

May 2020 (PDF)

The OSBA membership adopted Resolution 2 during electronic voting Nov. 12 - Dec. 14, 2018.  

Resolution 2 amended the OSBA Bylaws relating to composition of the OSBA Board of Directors by designating a voting seat on the OSBA Board of Directors and Legislative Policy Committee for a representative of the Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus.

View Frequently Asked Questions regarding the changes made to the OSBA Bylaws.

• Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus Membership Meeting - July 2021
  July 2021
• Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus Executive Team Meeting - August 2021
  August 2, 2021
• Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus Executive Team Meeting - September 2021
  September 6, 2021
• Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus Leadership Council Meeting - September 2021
  September 18, 2021
• Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus Executive Team Meeting - October 2021
  October 4, 2021
• Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus Executive Team Meeting - November 2021
  November 1, 2021
• Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus Membership Meeting - November 2021
  November 12, 2021
• Oregon School Board Members of Color Caucus Executive Team Meeting - December 2021
  December 6, 2021