Rex for Metro President

As a former high school science teacher, Rex has always been a strong advocate of children’s programs.  In the early 90’s, Rex helped organize a large grassroots movement to save public school funding, including a rally that brought thousands of concerned citizens to Waterfront Park in downtown Portland.  Then in 1995, Rex and his partner, Lydia, rolled up their sleeves to build The Northeast Community School, a public-private magnet school focusing on urban issues and community service.  He also volunteered in his children’s schools weekly for 20 years.

Today we are proud to announce the Portland Association of Teachers has endorsed Rex’s campaign for Metro President!

Look at what Rebecca Levison, President of the Portland Association of Teachers, has to say about Rex:

This race is important for both children and teachers in our region, and it is clear that Rex Burkholder is the best candidate for Metro President.  When funding became scarce, Rex worked tirelessly to save Outdoor School so that more than 18,000 children could benefit from this wonderful program.

As our region grows, we need to ensure the health and safety of our neighborhoods.  Everyone wants to live in a community where their children can bike and walk safely, and every child deserves the opportunity to learn about the world around us.

We’re so happy that teachers have joined the campaign!

On Oct. 6, I was honored and humbled to receive the Environmental Education Association of Oregon’s Excellence in Environmental Education Awards at its annual international conference which took place in Portland.

Though generally reserved for environmental educators, Kim Silva and Dan Prince of the Multnomah Education Service District (ESD) and Friends of Outdoor School submitted my name because of the work the Metro Council and I have done in providing support for the ESD’s long-standing Outdoor School program. I first suggested Metro support Outdoor School in 2006.

Metro’s fiscal year 2008-09 budget included $1.4 million to provide partial reimbursement to approved Outdoor Immersion Program Providers for including 6.5 hours of waste reduction curriculum and activities during each week at outdoor school. Several schools in the region – from Beaverton to North Clackamas – were able to participate for the first time in Outdoor School because of this funding; others were able to increase the length of their programs by a day, and still others would have had to cancel if funding was not provided.

The award I received was for an outstanding individual dedicated to advancing or providing quality environmental education in Oregon. Outdoor School is particularly proud of its partnership with Metro, which has created a reliable funding stream for teaching sixth graders throughout the region about waste reduction and recycling. Up to 15,000 sixth graders from throughout the region can keep attending this very important residential environmental education program which is has been described by some students as a life-changing experience.

The Environmental Education Association of Oregon is dedicated to creating an environmentally literate citizenry composed of people who have the skills and knowledge necessary to make informed decisions regarding natural resources.

Outdoor School is an environmental education program for sixth-grade students and has nearly 40 years experience offering science-based, environmental education.