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Supporter Spotlight: Maureen Barnhart
by Michael Coiner
This month, our Supporter Spotlight features Maureen Barnhart. Maureen, a retired teacher and member of the Oregon Education Association Retired Board, previously served as President of the Hillsboro Education Association. She is also a member of the Washington County Kids Board.
Coming to Portland with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, she planned to spend “about two years” in Oregon and then return to California. Maureen oversaw a clothing closet and food bank in Northeast Portland near the Albina district. She became intrigued with the community school in the area, a K-8 school in four classrooms.
Inspired by her experience, Maureen enrolled at Portland State and became a teacher in 1977. Her first placement was at the Albina school. Since residents were losing their homes gradually, the school was a very important community space. The Matt Dishman Community Center also provided opportunities for students to engage in programs after school. Sadly, the neighborhood and school were eventually demolished to make way for a proposed, but never built, expansion of the V.A. at Emmanuel Hospital. The community and culture of the area was erased as those families were pushed out to east Multnomah County and elsewhere.
After Albina, Maureen taught at a parochial school in Laurelhurst. Many students had a parent at home and could engage in after school programs. The community aspect, including out of school activities and sports, enabled the families to stay united, unlike the ones in Albina who lost their homes to development. It was a stark contrast. After Laurelhurst, Maureen moved to Hillsboro. She observed how having programs outside of school gave students the opportunity to develop relationships no matter their home community.
Maureen observed that after school programs offer opportunities to engage with each other and provide critical thinking and relational skills. Some parents don’t have the luxury of being able to leave work and support their children at school, or have access to resources when their children are outside the classroom. After school programs fill these critical needs. They also provide cultural learning opportunities. While later working at an alternative school, Maureen shared a building with the Hillsboro Boys & Girls Club. She witnessed children from a myriad of cultural backgrounds getting to know and learn from each other. After school programs can provide a pathway for different cultures to connect.
Maureen feels that after school programs would benefit from consistent learning outcomes across all programs. Fully funding programs to allow for quality staff training and providing competitive wages would also enhance the level of service provided to students. For Washington County, Maureen would appreciate the chance for everyone to develop a shared dream of what we would all like our community to achieve. To her, after school programs are a small investment that can provide maximum results!
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Early Learning Washington County Launches Recruitment for Preschool Promise Program
Preschool Promise is a high-quality, publicly funded, preschool program that serves families with children ages (3) and (4) in families living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, children in foster care, children in families facing homelessness and children from other historically underserved populations. To learn more and/or to apply, go to the County Early Learning website.
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Voice Your Support to Increase Child Care for Children and Youth
You can let your voice be heard by County Commissioners that you would like increased access to care for children and youth. Early learning has some support but after school and summer do not. Currently, some care is being provided for essential worker families but many who would like care and need it to go to work cannot find it. Care will be desperately needed when the COVID pandemic is over. You can voice your support in two ways:
Washington County is holding listening sessions on community needs and recommendations for investments via Zoom with one or more Commissioners participating in each session. For more information: https://bit.ly/3dMopEC or you can click the dates below to RSVP.
You can also simply send an email to Kevin_Moss@co.washington.or.us to ask County Commissioners: “Please place the WCKF initiative on the ballot. Let us vote!’
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UPCOMING EVENTS
WCK Provider Education Series: Fall Training opportunity next Thurs, 11/5
Register HERE by 11/2 to secure your spot
Providers and staff: Enjoy your lunch while learning (and earning ed credits) during this professional development/ educational opportunity. It’s a low-cost, high-value, interactive online session designed for providers and caregivers of children in grades K-8 who want to expand their knowledge and improve communication and behavior.
Title: It Takes Two to Listen--Strengthening Connection and Guiding Behavior Through Communication
Instructor: Adrienne Henry, ORO Master Trainer
Date: Thursday, November 5
Time: 12-1:30 pm
Cost: For only $5.00 you’ll…
- Strengthen connections through listening
- Build capacity through communication
- Practice listening-to-understand interventions
- Apply practical solutions that guide behavior
- Leave with strategies and tools you can use and apply right away
- Earn set two UGB ORO ed credits upon request with verified session completion (must request on your event registration)
AND a chance to win a door prize (thanks, Pizza Schmizza!)
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WCK Newsletter editor: Shari Getz
