About Megan Norris
As a mom of two young girls – one already in a Bend-La Pine public school and one set to enter this September, Megan cares deeply about the success of our schools and all children. As the daughter and granddaughter of immigrants from Mexico, Megan wants all students to have the opportunities that she has had and that she and her husband are striving to give their daughters.
Passionate About Education & Our Children
After graduating from college, Megan served as a Peace Corps volunteer for three years in Senegal, West Africa where she led efforts to improve healthcare for local villagers and to empower them to access needed care. Megan was proud to help lead a countrywide bike tour that educated rural Senegalese communities about the importance and benefits of keeping girls in school. After returning from the Peace Corps, Megan taught Spanish for a year to high school students. Megan’s husband Greg was a teacher, coach, and athletic director at an inner-city high school for nearly 20 years so she understands the commitment and sacrifices that our teachers make to our kids and the broader community.
Most recently, Megan served as the Central Oregon Child Care Accelerator, managing a broad coalition including the Bend Chamber of Commerce, Neighbor Impact, Better Together, The Early Learning hub, Central Oregon Health Council, Oregon State University, Central Oregon Community College, and TRACEs to help solve the child care crisis in our region. Under Megan’s efforts, the group established a model to increase child care spots by working with employers and helped to secure funding to pilot the first locations. While the COVID pandemic put a hold on the initiative, Megan is committed to working with community leaders to make progress on this critical issue.
Experience to Lead Our Schools Forward
Megan has broad experience working in public service, for non-profits, and in business. Her diverse background and skills will bring strength and perspective to her service on the school board.
Megan has worked as a legislative aide; for a non-profit focusing on bringing solar energy to affordable housing; and at the Sierra Club, where she advocated for clean, electric vehicles and organized to safeguard key environmental protections. In the private sector, she helped to create a new, award winning, sustainable urban infill neighborhood which includes parks, a community center and a collection of public artworks by local artists. She was also part of a team that developed three utility-scale solar energy projects which generate enough electricity to power 100,000 homes.
