B.O.T. Profile: Laurita Portee Laurita Portee is serving her fourth year on the Sandy Spring Friends School Board of Trustees. She is currently co-clerk of the Diversity, Community, Spiritual Life (DCSL) Committee and serves on the Sustainability Committee. She's also served on the Advancement Committee and the Head Search Committee.
The Board at a Glance: • The Board of Trustees is the governing body of Sandy Spring Friends School • The Board is comprised of between 20 and 30 members. • The By-Laws require that a majority of the Board be members of the Religious Society of Friends. • Eight members of the Board are appointed by the Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends and four members are appointed by the Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. • The remaining members of the Board are appointed by the Board of Trustees. • Members are appointed for terms of four years and may be reappointed for one additional term. • The Board is organized with several officers including a Clerk, Assistant Clerk, Recording Clerk, and Treasurer. • The Board also has several committees who assist the Board in conducting its work.
Laurita and her husband Ralph Portee (both owners of Allstate Insurance Agencies in Silver Spring, MD) have been members of the Sandy Spring Friends School community since the 2000-2001 school year, when their daughter Lauren ('13) started in kindergarten. Son Theo ('16) started in 2009. Active in the Parents Association (PA), Laurita has served as Grade Representative, Middle School Division Representative, PA Executive Committee member, Winterfest Co-Clerk, and continues to volunteer for many school activities including participating in the community plays. She is also an Assistant Coach for the Upper School Track and Field team, and a member of the All School Diversity Committee. Born in Richmond, Virginia, Laurita graduated from the University of Virginia in 1981 with a Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning. She attended Virginia on a full track scholarship and was an All-American athlete in high school and college. As a student athlete herself, Laurita has been instrumental in helping the board think about the importance of the athletic program at SSFS. "I know from my personal experience as an athlete and from my experience as a coach how important athletics can be to a student's development. Sports and physical activity can teach invaluable lessons about how to strive for a personal best and how to work together as a team." Laurita's parents were both educators, and she now follows in her father's footsteps by serving on a school board. Laurita is proud to contribute to Sandy Spring Friends School as a Trustee.
Board members for 2011-2012: • • • • • • • • •
Elisabeth Benson "Ben" Booz Amy Christianson '81 Michael DeHart '71 Lin Delaney Mochiko DeSilva Steve Eller '87 Alan Fetter '80 Scott Henry Anne Hirshfield
Spring 2012
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Diane Hoffman Rick Honn Charles Horning '88 Terri Carmichael Jackson Alkia Jones Jim MacPherson Tom McCabe
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Cynthia McKee Deepika Mehta Sandra Michaels Curt Moffatt (Clerk) Laurita Portee Ellen Campbell Pskowski '71 Cynthia Terrell 21