Stephen Jupe - Rebecca Thistlethwaite – our choice for the future of our children

Our community sustainability depends on our ability to attract and keep well educated people in Wasco County, maintain security for our environment and our citizens, and provide the resources needed for a flourishing future. All of this depends on one vital element, a successful, thriving public school system. It is vital that elected school board officials are tirelessly focused on real student needs. Our community is very fortunate that we have such a person in Rebecca Thistlethwaite, who is willing to run for reelection, and understands the demands and responsibilities of the position
Rebecca understands that successful School Board Directors must work hard to research decisions, must enter the position with their minds free from personal preexisting assumptions about students, teachers and administration, and should focus on current realities and necessities to meet the needs of our students. Modern schooling is extremely complex; therefore, simplistic decisions can, and do, lead to unintended and negative consequences. Moreover, we are about to welcome a new Superintendent, and North Wasco County School District is at a point in its history where the physical state of our schools can no longer be put-off and ignored. After COVID, decisions will have to be made about different models of classroom application, and our new administrative leadership will need to have support, that includes advice that is well-researched and based on logic that is unfettered by political opinions. Often Board fixed preconceptions are counterproductive to student learning and children’s future success within our community.
Unlike many other school board candidates, Rebecca possesses the qualities that can fulfill all these complexities. She is a hard-working working mother, with children in school within the District. She is well educated and understands the importance of research and keeping up to date. She has worked tirelessly to raise funds for areas in our district not supported by current public funding. She has experience on our School Board and has a proven track record. Rebecca understands that unless we can maintain a modern, successful education system our community cannot thrive; we need to attract sustainable resources that in turn will attract young families. Most importantly, Rebecca has high ethical standards, who works hard to understand the important issues facing our schools and to act accordingly in the School Board’s decisions, in the best interest of our children.

Stephen Jupe
President North Wasco Education Foundation
Retired Superintendent, High School and Elementary Principal