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DARLENE VINSON
THE MID-COUNTY MEMO
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| Heart of the Community Individual Volunteer Award winner Allison Newman-Woods (center) at a Parkrose Boosters can collection event. The Boosters collect returnable bottle and cans the first Saturday of each month at Parkrose Middle School, 11800 N.E. Shaver St. |
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| Parkrose Educational Foundation Auction Chair Allison Newman-Woods and her husband, James Woods, enjoy a quiet moment at the 2008 Parkrose Educational Foundation dinner and auction. MEMO PHOTOS: TIM CURRAN |
Self-effacing, unpretentious and undisguised, Newman-Woods and her family moved to Parkrose from California in 1999, enrolling her two children at Sacramento Elementary in the Parkrose School District. “Immediately we starting wanting more information about what was going on in the lives of our children, so bit by bit we got more and more involved in the school district,” she said.
As her children moved from elementary school to middle school and on to high school, Newman-Woods' volunteer activities moved with them.
Active in the Sacramento Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, she was dismayed to learn there was no PTO at Parkrose Middle School. Undaunted, she went to work getting parents involved and re-created a PTO there. She was also on the middle school's site council.
When her son, Josh, now a freshman at Portland State University, entered Parkrose High School, Newman-Woods got involved there as well. Early on it became apparent that many parents had children enrolled in both the middle school and the high school. Few could manage two parent-group meetings on two different nights and fewer still wanted to. Once again, Newman-Woods stepped up with an idea and a solution.
Parkrose High Bronco Boosters is the parent group at the high school. Newman-Woods suggested that the PMS PTO and the Bronco Boosters merge. This organization created a natural bridge between the two schools, focused goals and reduced the time commitment expected of parents.
Not surprisingly, Newman-Woods had a vision that extended beyond this merger. She had learned that there was an ongoing need to find funding in support of athletics and music and discovered that many parents were eager to support one or the other, but not necessarily both. To fill the need, Newman-Woods helped create Bronco Athletic Boosters and Bronco Music Boosters and recruited parents to lead both. Both groups are districtwide and support continuity in sports and music so that students experience a seamless transition as they advance through the programs of their choice. Collectively these groups “raise money so that kids in the Parkrose School District can have more and better education, athletic and extra curricular activities,” she said. She also believes these changes and additions “offer a variety of options for people to be involved.”
Parkrose School District Superintendent Dr. Karen Fischer Gray is grateful for all that Newman-Woods does. “Allison is tireless and has boundless energy for doing things that make our school district a better place to be,” she said.
Newman-Woods' volunteer efforts do not stop at the schoolhouse. She helped organize a park patrol for Knott Park and a neighbor watch for the Parkrose Heights Association of Neighbors, served on the board of the Parkrose Swim Club, helped launch Blue Crush Aquatic Club, is the secretary of the Parkrose Educational Foundation and chair of the foundation's major fundraiser, the annual dinner and auction. During her time as chair, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised at benefits to, among other things, purchase tools and electronic equipment enhancing educational opportunities Parkrose students receive.
Recently, Newman-Woods' many and varied contributions to the community resulted in a Portland Trail Blazers/Hands on Greater Portland Heart of the Community award. She was also honored as the recipient of the 2010 Individual Volunteer Award. According to Andy Nelson, executive director of Hands on Greater Portland, “Allison was among more than a dozen people who were nominated for this award. Her nomination was vetted by a selection committee comprised of Hands on Greater Portland staff and board members.”
“I had a vision for what could be. Over the years I have seen that come true. I've seen lots of parents get involved. I've seen the district start to value parents. I have seen kids that perhaps would not have a chance, have a chance. And I've seen a stronger community evolve because of all of it,” she said of her efforts.
After daughter Brianna, now a high school junior, graduates from Parkrose, Newman-Woods will scale back somewhat. She plans to continue her involvement in PHAN, PEF and the Parkrose Farmers Market. She lives in the Parkrose Heights neighborhood with her two children and husband, James, who happens to be chair of the Parkrose School Board. Talk about a family's commitment to its schools.
The Parkrose Educational Foundation dinner and auction is Saturday, April 24 at the Holiday Inn Portland Airport. (See ad on page 5.) If you want to demonstrate to Allison your support and appreciation of her commitment to Parkrose, she would want you to buy tickets now at parkroseedfdn.org.
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