Meet a PWA Board Member: Carla Gay
Carla Gay, the Executive Director of Innovation and Partnerships at Gresham-Barlow School District, was elected to the Portland Workforce Alliance Board of Directors in June 2026.
Carla has nearly 30 years of experience advocating for students marginalized within the education system. She began her career as a reading specialist and support teacher in Nevada, later living in Africa and studying Spanish in Central America before settling in Portland, Oregon. Throughout her career, Carla has developed postsecondary transition programs, alternative school options, and multi-tiered systems of support, alongside leading local and statewide efforts to champion equitable educational policy.
In her current role, she collaborates with partners to build the Gresham-Barlow School District’s Preschool to Postsecondary Pathways to Career Success initiative. Her work focuses on innovative programming, mental health services, and systemic transformation to address the root causes of student marginalization.
She and PWA have worked together on shared goals since 2018, helping Gresham-Barlow youth explore career pathways through career mentorships, Career Days and the NW Youth Careers Expo.
Carla lives in Portland with her wife and together they have two young adult children. Carla enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, and traveling.
Below are some insights from Carla:
- Best career advice: “Don't let fear of the unknown hold you back from trying something new; Own your mistakes; Share your wins.”
- A memorable job as a teenager: “Car hop at a drive in.”
- Something I learned in high school about work: “Be on time and complete your tasks before being social (a-hem).”
- What draws me to serve PWA: “I'm passionate about equitable access to career exploration and experiences for students in east Multnomah County and hope to be a part of ensuring opportunities are available to students throughout the region.”
Thank you, Carla, for your service to the community through the Gresham-Barlow School District and PWA!
