2025 Jill Thorn Grant Winners
Clackamas County Democrats are pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Jill Thorn Grant, awarded to women running for office in the county for the first time. And that’s not a typo; that’s winners in the plural. Facing a wealth of deserving candidates, grant committee members broke with tradition and awarded two grants this year.
Congratulations to winners Kara Clark of West Linn and April Olson of Happy Valley. Both are running for school board positions in May’s Special District Election.
Kara Clark hopes to win election to School Board Position 1 in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District. Deeply committed to advocating for children and education, she serves on the Board of Decoding Dyslexia Oregon, working to support literacy and resources for students and families impacted by dyslexia.
“I have two children in the school district that are serviced through special education,” she notes. “When I was in the early stages of learning how to help my children, I started meeting other parents who had similar challenges, and I had teachers who talked to me about feeling powerless to help my dyslexic children. I quickly realized that a lot of parents don’t understand how to navigate the system to get the support they need. I realized that systematic change was the only way to get children equitable access to appropriate curriculum and support to improve outcomes.
“Over the last two years I dedicated myself to showing up to all WLWV School Board, PTA/PTSO and special education collaboration meetings to help drive difficult conversations. This experience will help me serve families of West Linn and Wilsonville.”
April Olson is running for North Clackamas School District’s Position 6. She’s dedicated 29 years to public education, as a teacher, a school administrator, and a district-level director. “But this isn’t just my profession,” she emphasizes. “It’s personal. I'm also a parent of two children who have attended or are attending public schools, so I understand firsthand what families want and need from their school system.
I've seen what happens when schools don't get the support they need, and I know the difference that strong leadership can make. Public education is the foundation of a thriving society, and I want to use my experience to ensure that our schools have the leadership, funding, and vision they need to serve every child well.
Clark and Olson will use their $500 awards to help cover such campaign costs as printing and mailing.
The Jill Thorn Grant honors Oregonian Jill Thorn’s years of public service and the example her life provides to other women seeking to serve the community by serving in public office.
Learn more about Kara Clark: https://karaclark4kids.com
Learn more about April Olson: https://april-olson.com/
Learn more about Clackamas County’s May 20th Special District Election.
Ballots will be mailed out beginning on April 30 and must be mailed in with a valid postmark or returned to an Official Ballot Drop Site before 8 p.m. on Election Night, Tuesday, May 20.
Your vote matters! Help elect Kara Clark, April Olson, and other candidates to school boards, water and fire districts, and other positions that help keep our communities strong and efficient.