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Feb. 9, 2023

In this Issue:

• February Message from Superintendent Goldman
• School and Program Highlights
• Upcoming Events and Deadlines
• Other Updates for Educational Partners

February Message from Superintendent Goldman

To our community partners:

Policymakers and school leaders are elbow deep in planning efforts for next school year. The Governor released her budget, setting the new floor for State School Fund (SSF) conversations at $9.9 billion. School districts are busy putting together their budgets and finalizing their Integrated Plans, culminating months of community engagement and thoughtful conversations about what our students need most, especially those traditionally farthest from access and opportunity in our education system.

Community-wide focus groups, surveys, empathy interviews, story circles, news headlines – even the latest episode of Saturday Night Live – make one thing abundantly clear: our youngsters are still reeling from pandemic trauma.

Recovery from the pandemic will be a years-long process – one that will be particularly challenging given the fact that we are still educating children while tallying daily COVID absences, puzzling staff plans together during frequent spikes of illness, and confronting a historic mental health crisis.

Providing schools with a stable, adequate funding must be priority #1 for Oregonians, starting with the State School Fund and including critical resources like the Student Success Act and Regional Inclusive Services. All children crave belonging, safety, routine and the opportunity to attend school with their friends; they depend on our policymakers to understand their needs and lift them up.

For all there is to celebrate in the enclosed newsletter, I don’t want us to forget the urgency of the moment and the struggles we’re still facing together. I urge our partners, our staff, our students and their families to make their voices known to legislators as school funding is negotiated in Salem.

In partnership –

Dan Goldman

Superintendent

School and Program Highlights

Pizza, Salad and Friends — Just Another Friday with Our Vision Program

Caption: Riley Jose Joaquin pulls his cheese and pepperoni pizzas out of the oven with assistance from Sue Schimmelpfennig, a teacher of the blind and visually impaired at NWRESD.

As he lowered the oven door, the heat spread across his face. The smell of baked pizza wafted out. Riley slowly reached in, his hands covered in thick black and red gloves. He reached for the pan and slowly raised it out of the oven and onto the stove. And then he carefully reached down and closed the door. He smiled as he smelled his pizza.

A small applause erupted from the teachers who were assisting him.

Riley smiled broadly with pride. He had just used an oven for the first time in his life. He clarified that he did have one previous experience with an oven, but it wasn’t hot. His mom had already turned off. 

Megan McCarter Named Chief Academic Officer

Megan McCarter, Ed.D., has been named the permanent chief academic officer of Northwest Regional Education Service District effective July 1. Megan has been working in this role on an interim basis since July of 2022 while also serving as the executive director of instructional services.  As chief academic officer, Megan will oversee the three core instructional programs, which make up the majority of staffing in NWRESD. These include our early learning team, instructional services team and K-12 special education teams. “During her 1.5-year tenure with us, Megan has impressed me with her passion for equity and laser-like focus on student success,” says Superintendent Dan Goldman. “She is the innovative leader — and champion for justice and student success — that I know we absolutely need in this role as we continue our efforts to close opportunities gaps for our students,” he says.

Upcoming Events and Deadlines

How To Canva

Monday, Feb. 13 and Wednesday, Feb. 22 - Virtual

11-11:45 a.m., 3-3:45 p.m.

Canva is a website that can help you create engaging slide presentations, videos, infographics and choice boards. It’s user-friendly and doesn’t require advanced graphic design knowledge. These 45-minute training sessions are open to any educator in Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook or Washington County. Depending on your school’s access, you will either have access to Canva for Education or a free, basic account.

Intermediate Tier 1 and Tier 2 PBIS Strategies: Mitigating Challenging Behaviors

Wednesday, Feb. 15 - Virtual

6-9 p.m.

Our early childhood special education team is offering a free, virtual training to early child care providers in Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook and Washington counties. Participants will learn about intermediate Tier 1 and Tier 2 Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) strategies. Participants will gain resources for broadening their social emotional teaching skills and behavior management strategies. This class is for educators who know the basics of PBIS but want to learn more concrete strategies for reducing challenging behaviors.

Webinar for Aspiring Teachers of the Visually Impaired

Thursday, Feb. 16 - Virtual

3:30-4:30 p.m.

In partnership with Regional Inclusive Services and the Blind and Visually Impaired Student Fund, Portland State University is launching a cohort program that will support and mentor licensed teachers who want to become teachers of the visually impaired. If you are a licensed teacher interested in teaching students with vision impairments, this informational webinar is for you.

Cathleen Jensen, executive director of K-12 special education at NWRESD will talk about the cohort and how it can support you. Scholarships and grants are available through the program to help you as you pursue this certification, gain new skills and advance your career. Current employees of Regional Inclusive Services are eligible for sponsorship opportunities. Please email Amy Frame for the Zoom link.

There is a severe shortage of teachers of the visually impaired in the state of Oregon. With an estimated 775 blind or visually impaired and 72 deafblind students in Oregon, we need more teachers who can provide students the skills they need to navigate the world and have a successful school experience.

Community Film Screening of 'The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks'

Wednesday, Feb. 22 - Hillsboro

6-8 p.m.

In celebration of Black History Month, we are pleased to present a community screening of the 2022 documentary "The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks." Students, families, educators and community members are invited to attend this free screening of the film. The event will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at our Washington Service Center in Hillsboro. A question-and-answer session will follow the screening.

Food and drinks will be provided. Free child care is available upon request. Captions will also be provided. If you need additional accommodations to attend or would like to request child care, please email Janet Bucio at least 5 days before the event.

School Attendance Using an Equity Lens

Wednesday, Feb. 22 - Virtual

12-1 p.m.

Join us for a free, one-hour virtual session on building attendance supports in your school while ensuring you are focused on using an equity lens. Topics for this session include: equity-driven attendance supports, communication strategies, and using student voice to improve school attendance. This session is specifically designed for educators and support staff leading attendance initiatives at schools in Columbia, Clatsop, Tillamook, and Washington counties.

codeORcreate Northwest 2023

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, April 21-23 - Virtual and in person in Hillsboro

Half-day Friday and Sunday, Full-day Saturday

We're hosting a free computer science design challenge April 21-23 for high school students who are interested in website design, coding, graphic design and/or game design. The competition is open to students in Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook and Washington counties.

Students can enter as a team with up to five people or individually. After receiving applications, we will follow up with individuals and pair them with a team. We will also assign industry mentors to all teams.

Other Updates for Educational Partners

Families with Children Experiencing Disabilities Could Qualify for Additional Tax Exemptions

Caption: A young girl signs with her mom at home on the couch.

The Oregon Tax Code provides an additional tax exemption for parents of eligible children with disabilities in Oregon. The procedure for claiming an exemption for the 2022 tax year is explained in the Oregon Individual Income Tax Return and Instruction booklets.

Who qualifies for the exemption?

A child qualifies if they meet all of the following criteria:

• Qualifies as a dependent of the parent(s) for tax year 2022;
• Is eligible for early intervention services (birth to age 3), early childhood special education services (ages 3 to 5) or receives special education as defined by the State Board of Education of the state where the child attends school; and,
• Is considered to have a disability as of Dec. 31, 2022, under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and related Oregon laws.
  
  

Spread the Word: Nominations Are Open for Oregon Teacher of the Year

Caption: Find out what makes an Oregon Teacher of the Year by watching this video.

The Oregon Department of Education, in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, is accepting nominations for the next Oregon Teacher of the Year. Nominations are open statewide through Feb. 28. Anyone can nominate a teacher. All Oregonians are encouraged to nominate their favorite teacher today at: oregonteacheroftheyear.org.

Oregon education service districts will select a winner from their region. Regional Teachers of the Year will be honored across the state in September 2023. In October 2023 one of the Regional Teachers of the Year will be named the 2023-24 Oregon Teacher of the Year and will be eligible to apply for the honor of the National Teacher of the Year.

Regional Teachers of the Year will receive a cash prize of $1,000 and will be celebrated across the state. The 2023-24 Oregon Teacher of the Year will receive a $10,000 cash prize (with a matching $5,000 going to their school) and serve as a spokesperson and representative for all Oregon teachers.

Promote the Oregon Teacher of the Year nomination form in your school community using this nomination toolkit.

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