PORT TOWNSEND — Holley Carlson, former chairwoman of the Port Townsend School Board, is the president-elect of the Port Townsend Education Foundation.
Carlson, who is also a Windermere real estate agent, will take over as president of the foundation in October when the current president, Caitlin Harrison, steps down and begins phasing off the board after six years of service, the nonprofit announced Tuesday.
“The foundation couldn’t ask for a more committed, passionate, skilled public servant than Holley Carlson to come in as president,” Harrison said.
“I feel confident we will see exciting developments in the foundation’s outreach and community presence under Holley’s leadership.”
The foundation raises funds for Port Townsend’s public schools.
“I have loved being involved with this wonderful organization,” Harrison said.
“When I walk in a classroom and know that without PTEF there would be no fourth- and fifth-grade art classes, no iPads at Grant Street, no essential high school science tools, no community garden and fewer dollars toward environmental restoration projects, I feel grateful for having an opportunity to serve.”
Over the past eight years, the foundation has awarded more than $300,000 to fund teacher-generated grant proposals through a formal review process.
It is an all-volunteer organization composed of parents, business owners and community members.
More than 99 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to the public schools, the foundation said.
Founding member
Carlson, a founding member of the foundation, said she is looking forward to her new role.
“I was excited to be there in the beginning when the first visionary meetings began. I’ve watched PTEF grow into something beautiful,” she said.
“With more and more teachers applying for grants, the need is even greater to grow the board and raise funds for students. I am honored to be asked to serve.”
Carlson, 51, submitted her resignation from the School Board on June 7.
She said in her resignation letter that she had used poor judgment during an event on school grounds by participating in a toast with “an incremental amount of alcohol” May 29 at the end of an eighth-grade dinner-dance she helped chaperone.
No children were present when adults toasted “a job well done,” she said, but the toast with alcohol violated the school district’s zero-tolerance policy concerning drugs and alcohol.
In addition to her past position as chairwoman of the School Board, Carlson has been a member of the Healthy Youth Coalition and the Substance Abuse Advisory Board, chairwoman of the OlyCAP/Working Image Fashion Show, the Community Network Board, the Port Townsend Cooperative Playschool Board and Real Estate Professionals for Affordable Housing.
She also has served as a volunteer for Centrum and has been the presenting sponsor of a theater experience for schools.
This summer, Carlson sponsored a weeklong prep camp for girls intending to play high school soccer this fall.
The foundation is now adding new board members. If interested, visit www.pteducationfoundation.org.
