Our Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors have a deep, personal commitment to Portland and Portland Public Schools. They lead The Fund for PPS through their expertise, their knowledge of our community and their passionate belief in the power of philanthropic investments in our public schools.

Jonathan García, chair OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chief of staff, partnership for los angeles schools
Principal, j. garcía strategies, llc

Jonathan García has dedicated his career to helping young people succeed and live fulfilling lives. He has worked in the nonprofit and public sectors and owns J. Garcia Strategies, LLC, a consulting firm that supports non-profits and public institutions in planning for their future and communicating complex change. Most recently, Jonathan served as the Chief of Staff for Portland Public Schools, Oregon's largest PK-12 school system. In this role, he was the senior advisor to executive leadership on all critical issues that impacted the school system's 43,000 K-12 students, 8,700 staff, and a $2.1 billion budget. In 2019 he founded The Fund for PPS, an organization dedicated to fundraising for Portland schools, and remains its Board Chair. His previous experiences include founding Spark SF Public Schools, an independent nonprofit organization that benefits San Francisco public schools, and raising over $20 million in philanthropic investments. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors of Get Schooled and Futuro Media Group.

Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong
Superintendent, Portland Public Schools

Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong is Superintendent of Portland Public Schools. Dr. Armstrong began her educational career as a public school teacher in the Puyallup School District (WA) and has since devoted over two decades to various roles in elementary, middle, and high schools. Dr. Armstrong's previous roles include cabinet-level Chief Academic Officer in Portland Public Schools, Executive Director of Equity and Public Relations in Edmonds School District (WA), Assistant Superintendent in Tamalpais Union High School District (CA), Associate Superintendent in Santa Rosa City Schools (CA) and Deputy Superintendent in Vancouver (WA). Dr. Armstrong has a demonstrated record of advancing student achievement, addressing racial inequities, and closing the achievement gap for students of color through her dynamic approach to classroom innovation, curriculum enhancement, and professional development.

Dr. Armstrong earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication from California State University East Bay, Masters in Business Administration from City University of Seattle and Doctor of Education Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. Dr. Armstrong serves on the Board of Trustees of Warner-Pacific University and on the Board of Directors for Reaching At-Promise Students Association (RAPSA) and The Fund for Portland Public Schools.

christine pitts, Phd
secretary of the board of directors

Dr. Christine Pitts, a non-profit executive and dedicated mother of four in Portland, Oregon, is a respected figure in education policy. As the interim president and CEO at Open School Inc., she is growing Portland metro initiatives to advance academic excellence, equity and justice, advocacy, and self-determination for underestimated students and families across the region. Before joining Open School, Dr. Pitts successfully fostered community-based research collaborations, secured substantial funding for educational research, and led national coalitions to reform policies prioritizing transparency and accountability. As Board Chair at Portland Backpack, Christine made historic strides in diversity and inclusion, scaled fundraising efforts threefold, and expanded the organization’s impact to feed nearly 1,500 Portland children weekly. Christine holds a BS and MAEd from East Carolina University and a PhD in education leadership and policy from the University of Oregon. Her outstanding policy leadership and scholarly contributions have earned her numerous awards, including the 50CAN National Voices Fellowship, the PIE Executive Leadership Institute, the Emerging Education Policy Scholar from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, and the Teacher Leader Award at East Carolina University. She also recently served on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Future of Data Working Group, setting the stage for the next era of federal and state policy on school accountability.

Kelly huotari
vice president of employee communications, cambia health solutions

Kelly Huotari is an accomplished marketing and communications leader with more than two decades of experience across the corporate, government and non-profit sectors. She currently serves as vice president of employee communications for Portland, Oregon-based Cambia Health Solutions. Kelly has a long standing track record as a passionate advocate for children and families in the Pacific Northwest. Prior to her corporate career, she spent five years as communications director for Multnomah County’s Commission on Children, Families and Community, helping connect local underserved populations with critical community services including Oregon Helps, 211, Sun Schools and summer food programs. Following that she led communications, marketing and development for the Children’s Institute, where she worked with the governor’s office, major Northwest philanthropists and grassroots organizations on a successful campaign to significantly increase funding for Oregon Head Start and Early Head Start. She spent the earliest part of her career in journalism, as a reporter and producer for KGW-TV in Portland. She graduated from the University of Washington with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics and International Studies.

Jon Isaacs
Executive Vice President, Public Affairs, Portland metro chamber

Jon Isaacs serves as Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for the Portland Metro Chamber. With more than 30 years of experience, Jon has held senior positions, and achieved significant political and policy victories in campaigns, public affairs, and public policy at the national, state and local levels. Prior to joining the Chamber, he served as the public affairs manager for Uber Technologies representing the company in Oregon and most of the Western United States, and as the chief of communications and public affairs for Portland Public Schools (PPS) from 2012 to 2016. Prior to PPS, he spent more than 16 years working for and advising Democratic candidates, elected officials, and progressive nonprofit advocacy organizations in national, state, and local leadership roles.

Jon graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1996, where he also served as Student Body President. He serves on the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability Clean Industry Advisory Committee, the City of Portland Economic Opportunities Analysis Work Group, the City of Portland Industrial Land Readiness Advisory Committee, Portland Bureau of Transportation Central City in Motion Advisory Committee, and the Trimet Transit Advisory Committee. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Transition Projects. Jon is a PPS parent and has coached in SE Portland Little League for the past 12 years and currently leads the 13 year old intermediate program.