Oregon Governor Candidate Marc Thielman 4PM Monday November 29, 2021 on KWRO
SUPERINTENDENT MARC THIELMAN
Superintendent Marc Thielman of the Alsea School District and Founder of Learn at Home Oregon, stood up against Oregon Governor Kate Brown and the failed school closure policies by safely keeping his district and programs open, saving hundreds of students and families from unnecessary hardship and poor mental health outcomes, including youth suicide last year.
The COVID pandemic inadvertently pushed Superintendent Thielman into the educational and policy forefront, as he earned the confidence of his certified and classified staff and safely opened for in-person instruction for the entire 2020-2021 school year, with zero COVID cases traced back to the school as the source.
This clear success created huge momentum among Oregon parents and communities to follow his lead and work to get more schools open and stop unnecessary harm to students and families. Marc took his success outside the Alsea School District by speaking truth to power and demanding that the Oregon Health Authority, the Oregon Department of Education and the governor’s office produce an objective measurement of the impact of government imposed shut down on students and families versus the impact of the virus on these students and families. The results of his advocacy contributed to the “surprise” school reopening announcement by Governor Brown on December 23rd, 2020! Marc is an effective voice for the voiceless – tirelessly demanding the science and transparency from state government agencies, and championing the struggle imposed by draconian and highly politicized COVID policies, which have done unjustifiable harm to Oregon students, families, businesses and communities.
On record since early last month, Marc declared that regardless of the policy guidelines were going to be with mask mandates for K-12 schools, his district WOULD NOT participate in mandates, and stand together with parents and students who inherently do NOT WANT THEM.
“It’s my promise to every Oregonian that I will stand firm in the pursuit of sound policy, not special interests. In my career as superintendent, I have come to see being ‘under investigation’ as a badge of honor as many mechanisms of government have been used by unethical people to ‘cancel’ effective change leaders who stand up for what is right. This kind of focus and leadership is rare, but sorely needed in public service. It’s clear my path has now led me to this moment, together with the good people of Oregon, to enter the race to be their next Governor. I will continue to tell the truth and will not be intimidated, as my track record shows.” – Superintendent Marc Thielman
Marc is loved across the state of Oregon and nationally by people from all political backgrounds for his unifying leadership style, direct solutions-based approach to problem solving, his empowerment of those working around him, and his steadfast principle of always standing up to do what’s right—even in the face of adversity or political backlash—to fight against the agenda-driven policies and politics as usual that have sadly become commonplace by many sitting in publicly-elected positions abusing their power, while ignoring the needs of countless Oregon children, families and businesses.
Marc is a father, husband, award-winning teacher and coach, long-time school superintendent, non-partisan policy advisor and tree farmer. He joined the Alsea School District in July of 2011. He has been a superintendent and principal since 2005 working in the Washington State districts of Yoncalla and Walloa, prior to Alsea. Marc came to Alsea for the opportunity to run a preschool through 12th grade, an open-enrollment school district founded on a business model designed to meet the needs of all students.
The Marc for Oregon campaign is grassroots-run by everyday people in Oregon who truly care, are ready for a change in leadership and support fairness in politics. While Gubernatorial campaigns are often heated and testy, the Marc for Oregon campaign stands strong against bullying, harassment and intimidation by anyone. For more information about Marc for Oregon, visit www.marcfororegon.com, follow @marcfororegon on social media, or call 541-649-2411 to reach the campaign.