For the first time ever, students from Siletz Valley School will compete in the Oregon ProStart Championships on March 2 in Salem — and there’s a powerful local story behind this team.
The Championships are produced by the Oregon Hospitality Foundation (OHF), which coordinates the ProStart® career technical education program across the state. While 13 high schools will compete this year, this marks Siletz Valley’s debut at this statewide event.
The Siletz program is led by Chef Patrick Clarke, a U.S. Army veteran, who set out to build more than just a culinary class. His vision has been to create a program rooted in values, discipline, and real-world, transferable skills. At Siletz Valley — a majority tribal charter school where more than half of students are Indigenous and many are members of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians — Clarke has worked closely with the Tribe to integrate culture and career pathways…