Welcome Back to School

Dear Virtual Public School Family,

Welcome back to school! This is an exciting time for students and parents as the 2018-2019 school year is fully under way. My name is Debbie Thibodeaux, President of the Oregon Virtual Public Schools Alliance (OVPSA) and learning coach to my own three children, ages 9, 14 and 16. OVPSA is a coalition of Oregon virtual public school families and supporters dedicated to the long-term viability of virtual public schools in our state.

I want to commend all of our virtual school parents who, over the last several years, have worked hard to educate state policymakers about the importance of virtual public schools. Thanks to consistent efforts by online school families, the Oregon State Legislature is better informed about the critical role of virtual  public schools for so many Oregon families.

Stories from virtual public school families need to be a part of the public debate as we continue to inform and educate policymakers about our unique form of schooling. Your participation makes a real difference to decision-makers in Salem!

As we start the new school year, I urge you to:

Also, be on the lookout for two upcoming emails:

  • OVPSA 2018 Voters’ Guide: This is a great resource to see where legislative candidates stand on issues related to virtual public education.

  • OVPSA Parent Survey: The survey gives us some insight as to why families choose a virtual public school and how it is working for them.

I also encourage you to mark your calendars to attend our Virtual Public Schools Capitol Day, which will be held at the State Capitol in Salem on March 13, 2019. This is a great opportunity to meet other virtual public school families and learn about our state government.

Thanks for your support, and I look forward to working with you to advocate for virtual public education.

Sincerely,


Debbie Thibodeaux
President, OVPSA 
Parent to Jordan - 10th grade, Baker Web Academy
Michaela - 8th grade, Baker Web Academy
Zach - 4th grade, Baker Web Academy