Laurel Dukehart
Laurel Dukehart is Director of the Gateway to College National Network for Portland Community College, the developer of the Gateway to College model. The national network currently includes 12 sites in 10 states, and will grow to 16 sites by the fall of 2007. The replication project is part of the Early College High School Initiative, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Ford Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Prior to joining PCC in 2003, Laurel spent 12 years as president of a small consulting firm specializing in education policy, business-education partnerships, innovative teaching models, school-to-career programs, and effective education strategies for at-risk youth. Her background includes legislative and district-level policy work, curriculum development, program evaluation, grants management, strategic planning, and education-related media. In 2002 she helped develop an innovative K - 8 focus program for Oregon’s largest school district. She has been writing and speaking on state and national education issues for more 15 years.