Dear John,

It's back to school time. I remember how busy this time of year was when my kids were at home. As a parent, former member of the Portland Board of Public Education, and now the Executive Director of the Foundation for Portland Public Schools, education is a priority for me.

I want families to move to and stay in Portland because of our great school system. I want families who just moved here, whether they are English Language Learners or new arrivals from out of town, to rely on the resources of a strong education system from Pre-K to Adult Ed.

Portland has amazing schools. They certainly served my family well. And still, we have work to do to improve the system for all students and all families.

I will bring my experience and commitment to strong public schools to the role of mayor.

We're gearing up for the most important weeks of this campaign. I could use your support to help us in this final stretch. Can you make a contribution today?

At one point in time, all three of our kids were going to Portland Public Schools while I got my Master's Degree from the Muskie School at USM, served on the school board, and worked part-time. I know a lot of parents can relate to juggling a busy work life on top of managing school schedules (not to mention sports and extracurriculars!) Good luck to all the parents out there who are getting kids ready to start school next week!

Thank you for considering a contribution to my campaign. Every bit helps as we head into the busiest time of the campaign to determine Portland’s next mayor.

Thank you.

For the love of Portland,

Kate