Founder & CEO
April 27, 1943 ~ August 21, 2006
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The Story of James
James, 11, changed
my life and future.
We had convinced a group of
They were tough and
angry.
I used a 220-word list to determine the reading level
of each child, all of whom had repeated more than one grade. I told James that I
just wanted to know which words he could read so we could figure out where to start.
James studied the list. “I can’t read any of them.”
“That’s cool,” I said. “We’re all on a ladder going to the
top. We’re on different rungs, but we’ll all get to the top.”
I saw how embarrassed and exposed he felt.
Wanting him to succeed,
I asked if there was a word he could write—any word.
“I think so.” He shielded his paper from me.
Minutes passed as
he struggled to form the letters. I was pretty sure the word would be one he had
seen on the walls of neighborhood buildings.
Finally, James turned the sheet towards me. In his shaky
hand he had written one pleading word…help.
I was overcome. The direction for my life was set. My
life is dedicated to all of the children, the geniuses and the Jameses. ~
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Michael D. Forzley founded
Options for Education
Inc.
in 2004 to focus on helping non-profit organizations organize and implement
after-school academic tutoring programs for children needing extra assistance in
learning to read.
Mike’s dedication to children reaches far back into
his career. Born in
Believing that prevention was far better than detention,
Mike went to
Returning to
He was also the founder and CEO of
Purple Mountain Media Company,
a national newspaper
for children ages 9-12 with circulation of 350,000 in 37 states and 1,600 schools.
Mike was the founding Executive Director of
Friends of the Children,
a community-based
effort to change the lives of the community’s most vulnerable children. This nationally
recognized program serves children by providing full-time professional mentors in
their lives for 10 years or longer. The program has been replicated in several cities
across the
Mike founded Young American,
Mike developed
In recent years, Mike served on the Oregon Trail School District Board, as Vice
Chairman of the Oregon Juvenile Services Commission, and as a member of the Governor’s
Advisory Council on Juvenile Justice. He also served as a member of the Board of
Directors of the Legal Services Corporation.
Mike understood the process of building public and private partnerships, which he
did throughout his life. Mike’s passion was to use his wisdom, experience and skills
to build a better, safer and more hopeful world for children.
He will be deeply missed by his wife, Kris; children,
Adam, Jenna and Lucas and Hideko Forzley, and Michael Tillman; all his family; his colleagues at Options for
Education; and
his many, many friends.
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 Remembrances 
The poet, Lawrence Craig Green wrote, “They come, they go, they seldom know what they do, but they change you.” Although I have only known Mike a short time, I am a different person because of him. He taught me some valuable lessons in leadership.
He always approached each situation, each person with kindness, wisdom and high
expectations. On one of his visits to OCCTAC, he shared his vision about Purple
Mountain Press and his intention to provide children with inspiring articles and
integrate their contributions. What a wonderful dream to manifest! During the past
year, I have had the pleasure to work with Mike and the staff at OE, to open-up
after school learning academies in
Santa Ana. Because Mike
believed in our mission and efforts in the community, hundreds of children received
academic support, “they” are now changed because of Mike’s vision. I will miss his
encouragement and warm smile. --Dr. Gail Arriola-Nickell, Program Director, Orange
I worked with I have watched him support his dreams for students throughout his life...never losing his passion for equity and good deeds for all. I will most remember his kind approach to conflict and working with difficult subjects. He was gracious and generous then, as always.
Mike was a force to contend
with...he never worked less than those he
enticed to follow and implement. As one
friend from Vernon School said recently, "he
always loved his family so much." He spoke
so lovingly of his wife, Kris, his sons and
daughter. He was simply masterful in his
passion and articulation. This world is
truly a better place because of Mike. I will
hold his dreams close to my heart.
--Sonja Grove, EdD
My memories of Mike are numerous and strikingly vivid.
I think great people do that—cement
solid lessons in the people they touch.
The memory I want to share is of our first encounter almost three years ago, as
I was not at all a willing participant. Skeptical?
You have no idea. Fortunately for me, and for the children of Fresno County,
the heart of this amazing man was exposed in five minutes. Mike matter-of-factly referenced incredible systems of support that all had
a common thread - when young people are loved, they flourish. Mike didn't just reference
how kids were changed when he spoke of them.
He described the light in their eyes, the spring in their steps, and I felt as though
I was there with him at those moments.
--Randy Mehrten, Fresno County Office of Education
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To add your remembrance to this page, please send your
words to
lcarroll@options-for-education.com and we will post them.
Thank you. |