BOARD: Lora Nordquist

Lora Nordquist, EdD, is currently serving as a part-time administrator for the High Desert Education Services District, after 46 years of working full time as a high school language arts teacher, middle school principal, and district office administrator, most recently as the deputy superintendent for Bend-La Pine Schools, the state’s fifth largest school district.

Lora first became interested in Friends of the Children/Central Oregon when she was leading Bend-La Pine’s elementary schools. She met with Kim Hatfield, the founding executive director, to learn more about FCCO and was immediately inspired by its mission of long-term mentoring and support for our most underserved students. Once Lora left full-time employment in July, 2024, she eagerly agreed to join the board and to serve on the organization’s program committee.

Lora holds a B.S. in English education from the University of Virginia, a Masters in curriculum and instruction from the University of Oregon, and a Doctorate in educational leadership from Lewis and Clark College.