Press Release October 16, 2006

HEADLINE: Founder and Executive Director of the Portland Schools Foundation to Retire

Founder and Executive Director of the Portland Schools Foundation to Retire
Cynthia Guyer's advocacy, focus and commitment to improving public schools have created stronger opportunities for Portland's children

After ten years at the helm, Cymthia Guyer announced today she will retire from the Portland Schools foundation in March 2007. Guyer, who joined the founding Board of Directors as a parent leader, has served as executive director since its inception in anuaruy 1996. The Schools Foundation's Board of Directors will begin a national search for her replacement.

Guyer has provided steady leadership in a turbulent decade, helping build a strong independent organization that is a leading voice for improving public education for all children in Portland.

"Cynthia is known throughout the country for her stellar advocacy of excellent public education for all children, especially low-income children and children of color," said Wendy Puriefoy, president of the Pubic Education Network, the national education advocacy group. "The Schools Foundation is a national leader because it has figured out better than anyone how to marshal parents and communities to strengthen public education."

Guyer's tenure began with a historic 30,000-person "march for our schools" supporting public education. The Schools Foundation opened its doors with $50,000 and a donated desk and computer. Under her leadership, it has flourished, now operating with a $9.4 million budget, 14 staff members, a strong board of directors, and 10,000 active supporters.

"Through her visionary and steady leadership. Cynthia has consistently challenged hersel, this organization and our community to do whatever it takes to ensure a first-class public education for every child in Portland," said Jill Kirk, chair of the Schools Foundation board and vice president of teh Oregon Business Council. "With parents, teachers, principals, and community and business leaders she has led the charge for adequate public funding, innovation in classrooms and schools, and accountability to the community. She has truly helped create the environment where we can produce the best schools in America."

In her 10 years as leader of the Schools Foundation, she has:

• Raised $44 million from 35,000 individuals, businesses and organizations to improve student acheivement and community involvement in the city's public schools.

• Led the fight for public funding - raising over $360 million for schools in the Portland district and more than $86 million for schools in the county's other school districts.

• Helped close the acheivement gap in dozens of schools with over $6 million invested directly in schools.

• increased the effectiveness of parents, families and community members in strengthening the city's highest-poverty schools.

• Launched the transformation of Portland's high schools in 2000 with support from the Carnegie Corporation, accelerated last year with a $9 million investment from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation adn Meyer Memorial Trust.

The Portland Schools Foundation is an independent, community-based organization that mobilizes ideas, leadership, political support and money necessary to ensure a first-rate public education for every child, in every school, in every Portland neighborhood. Visit us at www.thinkschools.org.