What: Donation Celebration-Gresham Ford donates a 2023 Ford Explorer Platinum vehicle to Gresham High School’s (GHS) automotive program in a special ceremony.

Date: November 18, 2024

Time: 1:00 pm 

Where:  Gresham High School

              1200 North Main Avenue

               Gresham, OR 97030

The event will include representatives from the Gresham Ford Dealership and Ford Motor Company, GHS administrators, the GHS automotive instructor, and students currently in the program. The event will celebrate the longstanding partnership to bring Ford technology and automobile education to the students in Gresham High School’s automotive technology courses. 

Gresham Ford’s partnership with GHS

In addition to the vehicle donation, Gresham Ford sponsors GHS students' access to the new Ford Tech’s Automotive Career Exploration (ACE) program. Through the program, students explore automotive careers in high school before entering the workforce and obtain valuable knowledge of Ford and Lincoln vehicle training. These courses are a subset of the same courses taken by current service technicians. The ACE program creates a funnel of high school graduates who are qualified technicians.

After high school, students can continue their automotive training at Mount Hood Community College’s (MHCC) Ford Automotive Student Service Educational Training (ASSET) program. 

Gresham High is committed to providing students with industry-standard knowledge and skills to help them successfully transition from high school to post-secondary education, training, or directly into industry. 

Long-time high school principal picked to lead the school

The Gresham-Barlow School District has selected Ted Zehr to serve as interim principal of Gresham High School (GHS). He previously served as the executive director of secondary schools for the Hillsboro School District and has a wealth of experience working as a high school principal, including ten years leading Hillsboro's Century High School. Before joining the administrative ranks, he taught high school math. He also has experience coordinating AVID programs at the high school and middle school levels.

“Ted Zehr has multiple years of experience leading comprehensive high schools throughout Oregon,” said Superintendent James Hiu. “He has the knowledge and experience needed for this work and is well equipped to collaboratively work with the GHS community as it works to create a new path forward with a continued focus on providing a safe, welcoming environment that supports students.” 

Mr. Zehr will visit Gresham High School on Monday, October 28, to begin the transition. GHS Principal Beddoe Whitlock, who has submitted her resignation, will lead the school until November 8.  

The District plans to begin the process of selecting Gresham High School's permanent leader in January 2025. This process will include getting input from students, families, and staff.
 

Headshot of Ted Zehr Attached.