Paula Siverly has made education her main cause while serving the Sandy community

(SANDY) — For the better part of the past two decades, Paula Siverly has made mortgages her business, but her biggest overall passion is advocating for education.

While she grew up in Vancouver and Portland, Siverly has lived in the Welches area for 25 years. It’s where she raised her son, who graduated from Sandy High School in 2022, and where she has long been involved in a myriad of school- and Oregon Trail School District-related endeavors.

“I really have a heart for building our community and making it stronger,” Siverly explained. “I do like that Sandy is a small town. The community comes together, and we know each other. It’s so inviting driving into Sandy.”

Most recently, Siverly was appointed to serve the remaining term of former school board member Kurt McKnight in November 2023.

Before serving on the school board, Siverly was involved for varying tenures in the Welches Parent Teacher Community Organization, the district facilities taskforce, the Value Oregon Trail Education bond committee, the district budget committee, the committee to charter the Oregon Trail Academy, and the Sandy High School drama department (as a parent supporter). She also still serves on the superintendent leadership council for Oregon Trail and has indirectly been involved in the schools as a member of the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce’s Career and Education Committee.

“I’ve always been focused on education,” Siverly said.

Siverly has worked in the finance industry for three decades and is a mortgage advisor and branch manager for the Possibility Squad powered by Advantage Mortgage in Sandy.

Her first foray into serving on an education-focused committee was while working for the Credit Union Association of Oregon. She served on the Council for Youth and Family Education.

“I was really passionate about people having education about their finances,” Siverly explained. At the time, personal finance education was decreasing in schools. “Most people don’t take learning from their parents about finances seriously, so it’s important to have that opportunity offered by someone else.”

Siverly firmly believes that “it’s never too early to start learning about the homebuying process” and that the more homebuyers a town has, “the stronger our community is.”

One of her longest-term volunteer commitments has been with the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce, which she’s served since 2007. She's served as a member of the career and education committee and has helped with numerous events over the years.

For the past four years, Siverly has helped hold down the fort at the chamber’s Sandy Music and Feast, sleeping on-site in her RV to oversee event operations and ensure continued security.

“If I could support my family and be a professional volunteer, I’d do that,” Siverly explained. “I love helping people. It feeds my soul.”