Andrew Nelson, Treasurer
Why did you decide to serve on the Board of Directors for Arco Iris?
Throughout my adult life, I have volunteered with groups/organizations where I was aligned with their values and mission - spending time as a youth football coach, a Big Brother with BBBS Columbia Northwest, and as a member of Portland State University's Graduate Business Alumni Council. I now have two children attending Arco Iris and wanted to step up my support for the school to try to make it an even better place for everyone. Arco Iris allows many children to have an opportunity that I did not have as a child, a pathway to multilingualism AND a great learning environment for the classic subjects like math and ELA.
What do you love most about Arco Iris?
I love the tight-knit community that has formed in and around Arco Iris. The families support each other, and the school, with passion and caring. Being a transplant from the East Coast, with the majority of our family still there, the Arco Iris community has become an extension of our family.
What do you do for your "day job"?
I am an Operations Program Manager in the aerospace and defense industry, leading teams of approximately 10 people to bring new products from computer-based models to full-rate production. I own and manage the program deliverables from Operations while also making sure we influence the design of products to improve cost, manufacturability, and testability.
Tell us a little about you.
My wife Sarah and I are parents to an 8-year-old girl and 5-year-old boy. We spend a lot of our spare time supporting their interests and gathering new shared experiences. I am personally a huge fan of Manchester United so I will watch their early morning games over a cup of coffee while the rest of the house is still sleeping. I also love cooking and will end up with a small assistant chef for most of the meals I cook.
Sarah Zephirin, Board Secretary
Why did you decide to serve on the Board of Directors for Arco Iris?
I felt that my work as a public educator would be a valuable perspective for the board.
What do you love most about Arco Iris?
I love that my son gets to learn from amazing teachers who represent different countries and cultures. I highly value the diverse community at Arco Iris.
What do you do for your "day job"?
I am a Mental Health Care Coordinator for the Hillsboro School District.
Tell us a little about you.
My husband and I have two sons (8 years and 2 years). We are both originally from Wisconsin and love cheering on sports teams from our home state. Our family loves to travel, go camping, and enjoy the Portland food scene.
Josh Guerra, Finance
Why did you decide to serve on the Board of Directors for Arco Iris?
My grandparents were Mexican citizens who immigrated to the US in search of a better future for their children. I recognize the importance of Spanish in our own country and throughout the world, and I am an advocate for bilingual education for my children and for families in our community.
What do you love most about Arco Iris?
I am thrilled to be working with dedicated members of our community as well as the talented faculty and staff of Arco Iris who have high standards for excellence in education.
What do you do for your "day job"?
I am a Senior Project Architect and I work on a wide range of commercial projects including offices, multifamily residences, and public buildings. My focuses include writing specifications, project delivery, construction details, and building code interpretations. I enjoy mentoring our junior staff at my architecture firm and working with a wide range of professionals in other disciplines.
Tell us a little about you.
I love playing and watching soccer, coaching my kids, camping and hiking, and working on projects around our home.
Thank you for serving our community, Andrew, Sarah and Josh. We are grateful that you share your expertise and time to support our school.
The first day of school has come and gone, but there is still time to enroll in our tuition-free K-5 Spanish immersion school. Visit our enrollment page to get started.
About Arco Iris
Arco Iris Spanish Immersion is a small tuition-free public charter school providing a rich, immersive Spanish language experience and robust academics in a true multicultural setting. Centrally located off 217, between SW Portland and Tigard, we serve K-5 students in the greater Beaverton area to become bilingual and biliterate leaders of the future. Come see why we’ve earned the title Oregon’s #1 charter school. We’re enrolling for Fall 2023-24.