Page 13
April 25, 2018
Principal of the Year
c ontinued froM p aGe 2
gible for the national Principal of
the Year Award.
Under Wilson, Benson’s grad-
uate rate rose to 88.8 percent for
2016-17, well ahead of the Ore-
gon average of 74.8 percent. Ben-
son’s dropout rate for that year
was 0.2 percent; the state average
was 3.9 percent.
Wilson said he is proudest of
being able to build a communi-
ty with Benson’s diverse student
body that is about 70 percent stu-
dents of color and with about 70
percent who qualify for the free-
and-reduced lunch program.
“It’s just being able to work
with students, staff and family and
help bring them together,” Wilson
said.
Wilson manages a campus that
shares space with the Dart Pro-
gram, Alliance at Benson, Benson
Evening Scholars, a full slate of
Summer School Programming,
and several other alternative path-
ways programs.
“He is a valued peer for the
administrators of those programs
helping to serve our most vulner-
able learners,” said Ginger Taylor,
former Benson Evening Scholars
Principal.
Wilson is in his fifth year as
Benson principal after moving
from Grant, where he was a vice
principal. A graduate of Roosevelt
High School and the University of
Oregon, Wilson started his educa-
tion career as a health teacher at
Harriet Tubman Middle School in
1997, before moving to Roosevelt
to teach in 1997.
He also served as a coach, of
basketball at Harriet Tubman,
and track and cross country at
Roosevelt.
In 2006, he moved into admin-
istration, first as dean of students
at Roosevelt, then moving to
Grant as a vice principal in 2007.
In 2013, he took over as princi-
pal at Benson, succeeding Carol
Campbell, who took the same po-
sition at Grant.
Wilson showed just how ded-
icated he is to Benson when the
school’s girls basketball team
made the state championship
game. He offered to pay the ad-
mission of any Benson student
who wanted to watch the Tech-
sters play Southridge at the Chil-
es Center.
Gun Measure Petition Training
An initiative petition promot-
ing public safety in Oregon by
banning the sale of assault weap-
ons and large capacity magazines
takes another step forward when
a rally and signature gathering
training session for all ages is held
on Monday, April 30 at 7 p.m.
at Augustana Lutheran Church,
2710 N.E. 14th Ave.
“Now is the time, this is the
moment. We encourage everyone
to join our Lift Every Voice cam-
paign for Ballot Measure 43,”
said campaign chair Rev. W. J.
Mark Knutson, Augustana senior
pastor.
The other chief petitioners are
Rev. Alcena Boozer, former prin-
cipal of Jefferson High School
and pastor emeritus of St. Philip
the Deacon Episcopal Church, and
Rabbi Michael Cahana of Con-
gregation Beth Israel. The treasur-
er is Imam Muhammad Najieb,
director of the Muslim Commu-
nity Center of Portland and a vet-
eran of the Marines. Rev. Lynn
Smouse-Lopez of Ainsworth
United Church of Christ is serving
as an alternate petitioner.
More information, visit liftev-
eryvoiceoregon.com.
photo by t racy s tadaMire /u n -4-G ettable p hotoGraphy
Allen Temple Church Pastor LeRoy Haynes and Oregon Supreme
Court Associate Justice Adrianne Nelson attend a recent fundrais-
er at the home of community leader Kay Toran to raise donations
and purchase customized bricks to rebuild the church.
Allen Temple Brick Campaign
Portland community leader
Kay Toran recently hosted a fund-
raiser at her home to help Allen
Temple Church rebuild from a
2015 fire.
Participants could make a do-
nation or purchase customized
bricks which will be laid on the
grounds of the rebuilt northeast
Portland church. Generous con-
tributions have come from Tom
Kelly of Neil Kelly remodel-
ing, Stan Pauls, Décor Cabinets,
Prosper Portland, NW Natural,
Maranatha Church, the North-
east Coalition of Neighborhoods,
Portland Community Reinvest-
ment Initiatives, Life Change
Church, Walsh Construction,
Alicia Yoder, Matt Leeding and
Ryan Wilde.
It’s not too late to purchase your
own brick for the re-building cam-
paign. Four different sizes with
your words are available by call-
ing the church at 503-852-1758.
Together, we do good things.
TM
This page is sponsored by Oregon Lottery
R
April 2018
C alendar
SUNDAY
22
Earth Day,
established 1970
Girl Scout Leader
Appreciation Day
29
Zipper Day (pat-
ented by Gideon
Sundback in 1913)
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
23
Home Run Day
William Shake-
speare born, 1564
30
National Honesty
Day
Anniversary Lou-
isiana Purchase
completed (1803)
24
Library of Congress
established (1800)
Pigs-in-a-Blanket
Day
25
26
Admin. Profession-
als/ Secretaries Day
Hubble Telescope
launched, 1990
World Penguin Day
Take your Daughter
to Work Day
Hug a Friend Day
National Pretzel
Day
FRIDAY
27
Arbor Day
Tell a Story Day
SATURDAY
28
James Monroe
born, 1758 (5th
President)