Gov. Brown talks education in C.O. address, school visits
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown was in Bend on Thursday to give a speech and visit a school and business as she touts the state’s economic recovery, while also raising funds in her election campaign.
On the second stop of a three-day state tour, Brown spoke to the City Club of Central Oregon, sharing her 2016 priorities and having a discussion with some 350 attendees about issues facing Central Oregon.
She spoke about improving education around the region and achievements made in that area, noting: “High school graduation is not a finish line — it’s a launch pad.”
Brown told business leaders her top education priority is increasing the number of students graduating high school. She said education leaders need to get students ready for college, for post-secondary training or ready for the world of the work.
She also said half of young children in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson County struggle to meet early-learning milestones that indicate a child is ready for school.
Brown said her office and the Legislature have poured $100 million into childhood education.
The governor also thanked Deschutes County Sheriff Shane Nelson and his agency for all their hard work to investigate the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation and the fatal shooting of LaVoy Finicum.
After her talk, Brown traveled to Juniper Elementary School, where the governor spoke with students and staff about the school’s vision on incorporating technology in everyday learning.
“They are learning key skills, both collaboration and technology,” she said. “They’re learning the skills they are going to need to create the jobs for tomorrow, and it’s really great to see.”
The governor’s office reached out to school officials at Juniper Elementary to get a glimpse of how teachers are incorporating IPads into everyday learning.
Juniper Principal Dan Wolnick said it’s wonderful to highlight the hard work the staff and students are doing.
“We’re very excited and proud of all the work that we do in technology and integrating technology into our instruction in a daily basis,” Wolnick said. “And to have the governor’s office recognize that and the governor requesting to come to our school is just a huge honor.”
She then headed to Humm Kombucha, for a tour of the growing business from company CEO Jamie Danek, a member of the Governor’s Small Business Advisory Council.
Brown — the former secretary of state who became governor when John Kitzhaber resigned early last year — also had two more Bend stops to make: evening fundraisers at a local law firm and private home. She recently announced she will run for the remaining two years of the current term this year.
On Friday morning, before heading to Eugene, Brown plans to visit Sisters High School and meets with students in the Americana Community Luthier Program, which brings community partners together to teach students how to build guitars.
