Oregon’s Top K-12 Demographer Joins the FLO Team

FLO’s school district practice is getting a new infusion of demography expertise in July with the hiring of Charles Rynerson as a lead demographer. Charles comes to FLO after 16 years at the Portland State University Population Research Center (PRC) where he was the census state data center coordinator (July 2008–2022) and the K-12 school demography program manager (2006–2022).

His work at the PRC included helping the public access and understand Census Bureau products and other demographic and socioeconomic data sources, disseminating information to a network of 24 affiliate organizations, and planning and conducting census data user workshops for faculty, staff, and students from PSU and other universities; journalists; librarians; elected officials; staff of state and local government and nonprofit agencies; businesses; and the general public.

Charles has also served as principal enrollment forecasting investigator for numerous Oregon K-12 public school districts. His project management experience includes initial contact, budgeting, data collection, model design, supervision of one to four graduate students or faculty members, population and enrollment forecasting, report writing, and presentation of results at public meetings.

Other PRC projects Charles led include population estimates and forecasts for custom geographic areas and special districts, and assisting with the Oregon Population Forecast Program and annual population estimates for Oregon cities and counties.

“I have had numerous conversations with Tyler Vick and FLO staff over the past five years about our shared interest in K-12 enrollment and boundaries, developing a mutual respect and looking for opportunities to collaborate on student enrollment forecasts for several Oregon school districts. I look forward to working with the FLO team and helping clients—new and old—with their planning needs.”—Charles Rynerson

“We are beyond thrilled for Charles to join our team. The expertise that he brings is going to be huge for our demography team and our clients—and the timing couldn’t be better. Enrollment forecasting for public school districts across the nation has become more difficult because of the pandemic, and districts are looking for help in planning for the future. With Charles joining FLO, we are in the best possible position to respond to that need.”—Tyler Vick, Managing Director