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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 17, 2020
Media Contact:
Kelsey Cardwell, Communications Director
kcardwell@nwresd.k12.or.us | 541-399-9599
Not your average packet pick-up: Distance Learning will look a lot different this fall
Northwest Regional ESD launches a suite of distance learning supports for school districts
This week, Northwest Regional ESD will release its first in a series of supports for school districts in Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook and Washington counties. In a professional development series soft launch, teachers will attend live training sessions. Trainers will assess educators’ needs and modify sessions before the start of the school year.
“Ultimately, Northwest Regional ESD felt it was incredibly important to support the success of local teachers in their virtual classrooms,” explains Dan Goldman, superintendent. “Neighborhood online schools consistently produce much better student outcomes than online charters. Students are more engaged when they have existing relationships with their teachers and peers. I know our region’s teachers will deliver on this promise.”
Northwest Regional ESD’s professional learning and technology teams have partnered to provide a complete suite of services that includes:
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Professional development series: Each month, educators will attend four, two-hour live sessions complemented by customized team coaching. Trainers will help educators engage students in a virtual environment, fully utilize technology tools available to them, and teach virtual content in a way that honors and recognizes families’ and students’ culture and experiences.
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Distance learning infrastructure: Canvas, a best-in-class learning management system synced to the region’s common student information system will allow teachers and principals to build virtual classrooms and schools; Acellus, an online curriculum will allow educators to access an extensive library of courses and curricular materials.
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Technology support: Multilingual tech support staff will be available to educators and families; with stable ESD-funding, support will expand to include more hours and languages.
“The pandemic has magnified technology disparities that have always made it harder for some students to complete homework or access supplemental education” says Stuart Long, chief information officer. “By uniting as a region to get kids and families connected to the internet and educational devices, we are working to reduce the technology gap significantly and better poise kids and families to participate in distance learning in the fall.”
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Kendra Hughes, professional learning specialist
Kendra has 30 years of experience as a trainer and facilitator, working across the U.S. and Pacific Islands. She employs adult learning theory to plan and deliver meaningful and relevant training. Kendra especially focuses professional learning activities on research and promising practices that can be applied across diverse teaching environments and settings. Interview Kendra about: early learning in an online environment; instruction that reflects the family’s culture; trauma-informed practices; self/collective care.
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Renae Iversen, professional learning specialist
Renae’s 14-year teaching career includes experience in a one-room school in rural Montana and in one of the country’s largest school districts in Las Vegas. In Oregon, Renae has taught in small districts and an online school. She has mentored beginning teachers with Hillsboro School District. In 2017, she joined the NWRESD Professional Learning Team to provide quality professional learning experiences for educators across the region. Interview Renae about: supporting rural teachers; online instruction.
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Corin Wyatt, instructional technology innovation supervisor
Corin is an innovation strategist, technology administrator and former classroom teacher. She has 25 years experience with education technology. Before joining the Cascade Technology Alliance, she served as the Director of Technology and Innovation for the Forest Grove School District. Interview Corin about: educational technology; training teachers to use technology tools.
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Also available for comment are Dan Goldman, superintendent of Northwest Regional ESD, and Stuart Long, chief information officer of Cascade Technology Alliance.
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Northwest Regional Education Service District is the largest of Oregon’s 19 education service districts. It serves 20 school districts in Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook and Washington counties. These school districts serve nearly 104,000 students.
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