Connie Miller Cheifetz

At nineteen, Connie left her mother’s home in Florida and moved to the Pacific Northwest There she pursued interests that have stayed with her: art, cooking and children.  She had a variety of jobs over the years that involved these interests in highly diverse ways.

In the early 1980’s she worked in a small Seattle restaurant where she rose to the position chef de cuisine. Her hard work and creativity won her acclaim that lasts to this day. She moved to Portland to marry and shortly thereafter became a mother to one son. Being a home maker gave her the time to become more involved in the arts, and introduced her to serving on non-profit boards including Creative Arts Community, The Community Music Center and Museum of Contemporary Crafts.

From the time her son entered kindergarten at Buckman Elementary School, Connie has been working along side children. Here she melded two of her interests, art and children. She quickly became known around the school as she volunteered nearly fulltime. She worked with teachers to develop curriculum that integrated the arts into social studies or science units, created imaginative art displays on bulletin boards and in display cases, and led workshops both in the classroom and after school

Celebrating its 17th anniversary in 2008 the “Buckman Art Show & Sell” was established in large part due to her efforts. Working with the visual arts teacher and a small group of parents, an event was born that brought working artists and community members into the school. It continues to this day generating revenue for the artists and the school. The first year she was involved with the school, Portland Public Schools recognized her with an “Artist Visionary” award at its annual volunteer banquet.

But that accomplishment pales in comparison to her role in the establishment of da Vinci Arts Middle School, a PPS focus school option for children from throughout the area. Working with other parents, she provided the necessary leadership to not only convince PPS that a middle school with an arts curriculum at its core would serve both the district and families well, but she has guided the school through its first dozen years.

Da Vinci opened in 1996 attracting 50% more students than its target. The school grew each year so that by 2006 it was serving 450 students annually. In 1997 The PPS Foundation awarded Connie an “Excellence in Education” award. All this time she has been at the school ‘day in, day out’ first donating her time, later as a staff member, working to serve the needs of students, parents and staff; coordinating activities and events, and serving as the true heart of the school. 

In 2004, Young Audiences gave da Vinci a “Sunburst Award” for its excellent arts programming. In 2008, da Vinci received an “Oregon Creative Ticket School Award” from the Oregon Alliance for Arts Education citing how the schools program in the Arts stand out as an example of the importance of teaching the arts and creativity.

The work she has done exemplifies how a person’s love for children and dedication to the arts can lead to an educational environment that empowers many. Her efforts have touched the lives of not only the students, but their parents as well, making a qualitative difference in countless peoples’ lives.

Ms. Cheifetz was nominated by da Vinci student Alexa Jeddeloh and her mother Lee Cason Doss. This biography was written with the help of her friends and colleagues.