In 2001, Bruce Bayliss was only one month into his post as Head of School when he realized that the faculty at International School of Portland was the best he had ever encountered. In a career in international education that spanned decades and continents, Bruce found ISP’ teachers to be the most dedicated he had ever seen.

During Bruce’s time here, he initiated a lot of what makes International School of Portland the special place and community it is today. He started our beloved Handshaking Ceremony and initiated the process for ISP to become an International Baccalaureate World School. However, his proudest accomplishment was supporting the great work that our teachers carry out day after day. Bruce would go on to retire after leaving ISP, but reflected that he “couldn’t have picked a better way to end my career in education than with the ISP faculty.”

In 2014, Bruce decided that he wanted to give something back to the teachers that had given International School of Portland (and him) so much. He established The Bruce Bayliss Fund for Teacher Professional Development. Revenue from the Fund will go towards providing our teachers with opportunities to continue their education and professional growth.

Bruce’s generous gift is planned as part of his estate. Learn more about how you can make an important contribution with a legacy gift through your will or estate.

To make a gift to the Bruce Bayliss Fund for Professional Development:

• Make a donation online. Choose endowment as your gift designation, and write “Bruce Bayliss Fund” in the gift inspiration box.
• Send a check to International School of Portland with “Bruce Bayliss Fund” written in the memo line [International School of Portland, 2305 S Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97201 Attn: Development Office]

For other ways to make a gift (including through a bequest or gift of stock), contact Development Director Beth Katona – BethK@intlschool.org, 503.225.2496 ext 117

Deloris A. Spear Center for Excellence in Teaching Endowed Fund
 

Established in 2019 with an endowed leadership gift by the Don and Ione Spear Family, the Deloris A. Spear Center For Excellence in Teaching honors the life of Deloris Ann Spear.  Deloris was a dedicated public-school teacher for over fifty years.

Don and Ione, whose children attended the International School of Portland, founded The Spear Center at ISP because of its globally-minded program and dedication to collaborative, inquiry-based education.

“To honor Deloris Spear’s dedication to teaching and the promotion of others, we are excited to support the International School of Portland through the creation of this Center,” says Don Spear, son of Deloris. “Teachers are learners too and the better they become at their profession, the better the school and the students become.  The better the students become, the better the world becomes.”

International School of Portland of Portland honors the passing of Donald F. Spear, Sr., beloved husband of the late Deloris Spear. 

In honor of Don’s memory, gifts can be made using the button below. 

The entire Spear Family are cherished members of the International School of Portland community, and Don Sr. will be greatly missed.

Make a donation online

The Greeney Family knows that a good education can be life-changing. “This all branches back to my college education. It absolutely changed my life and shaped my career,” shares Jon Greeney. “I am fortunate to have had some amazing teachers and educational opportunities in my life.”

This belief in the power of education is what led Jon and his wife Yoko to ISP’s Japanese Track where they enrolled their son and daughter. “We can already see how their education is starting to shape their lives in exciting ways,” says Jon. “Not just in what they’re learning, but in who they are becoming.”

And, it is that same belief that was the motivation for establishing ISP’ first endowed fund for Japanese Track Scholarships. “We wanted to create a path for more children to have the same opportunities that we feel fortunate to have had, and to be able to pass on to our own children.”

Together with Jon’s parents, Paul and Wendy, The Greeneys have established The Greeney Family Fund for Japanese Track Scholarships. “Being able to help a child have a path to a great education was a huge impetus for starting this fund” says Jon. But, he also knew that was just the beginning. By investing in the ISP Japanese Track with an endowed gift, the Greeneys are helping the program grow and flourish, and ensuring that it will be here for their grandchildren and all who follow in their footsteps.

To make a gift to The Greeney Family Fund For Japanese Track Scholarships:

• Make a donation online. Choose endowment as your gift designation, and write “Greeney Family Fund” in the gift inspiration box.
• Send a check to International School of Portland with “Greeney Family Fund” written in the memo line [International School of Portland, 2305 S Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97201 Attn: Development Office]
• For other ways to make a gift (including through a bequest or gift of stock), contact Development Director Beth Katona –  BethK@intlschool.org, 503.225.2496 ext 117

In 2002, Kim Marcus assumed the role of President of the Board of Trustees at International School of Portland. In just 12 years the school had grown from nine to nearly 300 students. Another hundred would be added before Kim stepped down in 2009. His two young children, Benito and Cate, were thriving in the school’s Spanish Track and his belief in the mission and vision of ISP ran deep.

As he contemplated the school’s future, he knew there was tremendous potential, but he also felt there was one piece of the pie missing. The Board had shored up the school’s finances, renovated Stearns Hall and established new policies – all signs of the school’s continued growth and stability. However, Kim knew that to secure the school he and his fellow parents and trustees had come to love, ISP needed an endowment program. And so, he set out to create one.

Kim, along with fellow Trustees Michael Hummel and Kat Topaz, made the first generous gifts to a newly established “Leadership Fund,” International School of Portland’s first endowment fund. The Fund was named in honor of the past Heads of School, and promoted socioeconomic diversity by creating need-based scholarships, something that resonated with all three of the founding donors.

With their generous gifts, Kim, Michael and Kat set the stage for an exciting new chapter at International School of Portland, promoted a more diverse community of students, and helped secure the long-term future of ISP. “Kids, teachers and families will go,” reflects Kim. “But, the endowment will live on, and help to protect this place we love. That’s what we wanted to ensure – that International School of Portland will always be here for our community, and that its doors will be open to children from across the city.”

To make a gift to The Leadership Fund:

• Make a donation online. Choose endowment as your gift designation, and write “Leadership Fund” in the gift inspiration box.
• Send a check to International School of Portland with “Leadership Fund” written in the memo line [International School of Portland, 2305 S Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97201 Attn: Development Office]
• For other ways to make a gift (including through a bequest or gift of stock), contact Development Director Beth Katona – BethK@intlschool.org, 503.225.2496 ext 117

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The Sensei Fund in Honor of ISP Teacher Hideko Hanabara Forzley

Comforting. Kind. Nurturing. Energetic. These are the words ISP alumni parent Sean Onitsuka uses to describe Hideko Hanabara Forzley, a beloved Japanese Track Teacher. “She has been like a second mother to so many kids, even before she had her own. She makes everyone feel welcome from the moment they walk in the door.”

Sean recalls how Hideko’s classroom was always a community hub during his children’s time at ISP. Her energy and warmth drew in families from all language tracks. “She is just such a gift to the school and our community,” says Sean.

When Sean started thinking about giving back to ISP through a legacy gift, he knew he wanted to create something that would go to work for our Japanese Track. He also knew that the gift would be a way to honor a teacher who has given his children, and many others, so much.

In 2018 Sean established The Sensei Fund in Honor of ISP Teacher Hideko Hanabara Forzley to provide ongoing support for our Japanese Track. Sean’s gift and other community donations will enable exciting new opportunities to learn about Japanese culture and enhance Japanese language education at ISP.

Sean’s generous gift is planned as part of his estate. Learn more about how you can make an important contribution with a legacy gift through your will or estate.

To make a gift to The Sensei Fund:

• Make a donation online. Choose endowment as your gift designation, and write “Sensei Fund” in the gift inspiration box.
• Send a check to International School of Portland with “Sensei Fund” written in the memo line [International School of Portland, 2305 S Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97201 Attn: Development Office]
• For other ways to make a gift (including through a bequest or gift of stock), contact Development Director Beth Katona – BethK@intlschool.org, 503.225.2496 ext 117

ISP Alumni Parents Dudley and Laurie Slater were one of the first pioneering families of International School of Portland. Their son Toryn graduated in 2002 when the school was just 12 years old, and their daughter Kathrina followed in 2007. They recall a time before Stearns Hall, when ISP taught German, and when preschool classrooms were divided by partitions instead of walls.

They would spend a total of 15 years at the school – watching their children grow into young global citizens, and International School of Portland grow up alongside them. In the years since their children graduated, they have witnessed the profound effect that ISP has had on both of their lives – in their school and career choices, and in their world views. They have also watched with excitement as the school has continued to grow, but worried that for some families the opportunity to attend ISP, was becoming out of reach.

“One of the things we always valued about ISP was that there were kids from all over the city with different backgrounds, different religions, and different economic situations. We liked how this tied into the mission, and we want to see that continue,” explains Dudley.

In 2016, the Slaters established an endowed scholarship fund. Having seen the results of a ISP education first-hand, they wanted to give other children the same opportunities. They also wanted to strengthen our community by encouraging economic diversity, and contribute to the long-term health and stability of the school through a gift to the endowment.

“Our experience was life-changing for our children and our family,” reflects Dudley. “By creating this Fund, we hope to extend the same opportunity to other young families, many of whom face a lot of challenges these days.”

To make a gift to The Slater Scholarship Fund:

• Make a donation online. Choose endowment as your gift designation, and write “Slater Scholarship Fund” in the gift inspiration box.
• Send a check to International School of Portland with “Slater Scholarship Fund” written in the memo line [International School of Portland, 2305 S Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97201 Attn: Development Office]
• For other ways to make a gift (including through a bequest or gift of stock), contact Development Director Beth Katona – BethK@intlschool.org, 503.225.2496 ext 117