|
 |
|
Monday Memo |
|
|
|
Every year, we survey our employees about their satisfaction with our organization. This survey is completely anonymous and will take 5-10 minutes to complete.
The results of the survey inform employee resources, program decisions and goals for our management team. For example, it has informed the professional learning we provide, including inservice speakers and presenters.
The survey will close after Friday, April 21. Thanks in advance for your thoughtful feedback so we can ensure that Northwest Regional ESD is a thriving, welcoming workplace.
|
|
|
Educators at Cascade and Pacific Academies started a food pantry this year to support our students and their families. Our schools provide education with therapeutic support to about 110 students and are serving students from many Washington County school districts.
To raise some funds for the pantry, we are raffling off a beautiful hand-crafted bird feeder donated by a local craftsman. The artist individually creates those unique feeders. Raffle tickets are 3 for $5. Please email Tami Frame to purchase tickets. We’ll announce the winner on May 1. Don't pass on the chance to own one of those special bird feeders and thank you for supporting our students and their families.
--The Cascade and Pacific Food Pantry Committee (Mary Bambusch, Bethany Bowers, Patricia Burros, Allie Christian, Tracy Creel, Kristen Faust, Tamra Frame, Kristy Friday, Amy Knoedler and Michelle Shahtout)
Consider donating a few cans or boxes of food to the food pantry. We have placed a collection box near the reception desk at the Washington Service Center.
Questions? Please email Patricia Burros. Thank you for helping us support students.
|
|
Equity Policy Advisory Committee Welcomes Two Members
Rosario Echeverria - Adelante Mujeres
“I want to be an ally and actively fight racism. A diverse advisory committee can enrich the decision-making process and can come up with corrective action to create equitable outcomes for the Black, Indigenous and other People of Color (BIPOC) population.”
Carina Solis - Unite Oregon
“I am interested in serving on the Board Equity Policy Advisory Committee because I am passionate about providing a radical abolitionist lens to unsustainable institutions. Many times, superficial antiracist work is done at the expense of workers and students of color, and I want to apply a critical lens to the practices that enable such work. I am passionate about decolonizing education and making it accessible for students, families and faculty of color to advance and be able to live where the schools are.”
|
|
|
Kimberly Babb
Preschool Promise Quality Coach
Columbia Service Center
Kayla Bailey
Instructional Assistant
Beaverton Early Childhood Center
Jack Bello
Support Specialist - Early Childhood Professional Development
Clatsop Service Center
Sophia Berger
Instructional Assistant
Beaverton Early Childhood Center
Tommi Biden
Instructional Assistant
Columbia Service Center
Larissa Brown
Speech-Language Pathologist
Beaverton Early Childhood Center
|
|
Heather Byrd
Instructional Assistant
Beaverton Early Childhood Center
Angela Elliot
Early Childhood Education Specialist
Tualatin Early Childhood Center
Autum Marsh
Preschool Promise Quality Coach
Tillamook Service Center
Tamara Marriott
Instructional Assistant
Beaverton Early Childhood Center
Lauren Mullaney
Early Childhood Education Specialist
Beaverton Early Childhood Center
|
|
|
Luke Bussell
Instructional Assistant
Cascade Academy
Jasmine Engen
Speech-Language Pathologist
Tigard-Tualatin School District
Rebecca Glass
Instructional Assistant
Columbia Academy
|
|
Ashley Heath
Speech-Language Pathologist
Tigard-Tualatin School District
Kassidy Moore
School Psychologist
Tigard-Tualatin School District
|
|
Julie Barker
Accounting Support Specialist - Payroll
Washington Service Center |
|
Betty Liao is now a support specialist for the special student services team. She is based at the Washington Service Center. Betty previously worked as an instructional assistant at the Beaverton Early Childhood Center. She joined NWRESD in May of 2022.
|
|
|
|
We’re wishing the following staff members well on their next adventure. Thank you for your dedicated service to NWRESD.
Laura Germond - Site-Based Administrative Assistant (Early Learning)
Myronda Schiding - School Improvement Specialist (Instructional Services)
|
|
- Tuesday, April 11 - Oregon Professional Educator Fair (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.) - Oregon Convention Center
- Tuesday, April 11 - NWRESD April Regular Board Meeting and Executive Session (4:30-6:30 p.m.) - Levi Anderson Learning Center
- Tuesday, April 18 - NWRESD Career Night Event (4-7 p.m.) - Washington Service Center
- Wednesday, April 19 - Oregon State University Career Fair (11 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
- Thursday, April 20 - University of Oregon Spring Career and Internship Expo (12-4 p.m.)
- Thursday, May 4 - NWRESD Career Night Event (4-7 p.m.) - Washington Service Center
- Friday, May 10 - Washington County Hiring Expo (10 a.m. - 4 p.m.) - Wingspan Event & Conference Center
|
|
|
The NWRESD Board of Directors will meet from 4:30-6:30 p.m. tomorrow, April 11 at the Levi Anderson Learning Center in Beaverton. The board will recognize the work of our first cohort of Western Oregon University teaching candidates. The board will also receive a superintendent’s update and reports from our early learning, K-12 special education, equity, fiscal, human resources and technology teams. NWRESD staff and members of the public are welcome to attend virtually or in person.
NWRESD is hosting several recruiting events this spring. The events will take place from 4-7 p.m. at the Washington Service Center in Hillsboro.
We will offer on-the-spot job interviews for classified and licensed positions. We’re also offering on-site child care with fun events for the kids. For additional accommodations, including language interpretation, please email humanresources@nwresd.k12.or.us.
Dates:
- April 18
- May 4
- May 16
- June 6
|
|
Free WeightWatchers Memberships Available
WeightWatchers is currently offering free WW membership plans to staff and family members enrolled through NWRESD-provided insurance plans. Visit WW.com/OEBB to learn more.
Anyone who signs up before April 30 is also eligible for a free WW Mystery Box. Learn more about this offer.
Download the promotional WW flyer.
Sign Up for Onsite WW Coaching at Washington Service Center
The Oregon Educators Benefit Board is offering NWRESD an onsite, coach-led WW experience. In order to bring this experience to the Washington Service Center, WW requires at least 15 premium members.
If you are interested in this opportunity, complete this short survey. Once we have 15 committed premium members, you will be notified and we will have our first session with our WeightWatchers coach. See the details above for information about joining.
Below is an outline of what the experience will be like each month.
Week 1: In-Person Event
- The coach will come onsite, conduct weigh-ins for any members who’d like to weigh in, and introduce the focus and topic for the month.
- Provide members with a technique and high-level action plan for the month and first week.
Week 2: Digital Check-in via Connect in the WW app
- The coach will prompt members to do their weekly weigh in and provide additional technique information for members to help them stay engaged.
Week 3: Virtual Check-in via Zoom
- The coach will do a live virtual session to check in on how members are feeling about their progress.
- Talk through an additional technique within the context of the monthly theme.
Week 4: Digital Check-in via Connect in the WW app
- The coach will prompt members to do their weekly weigh in, reflect on the month, and tease the focus and topic for the next month.
Questions? Email Sharon Meeuwsen.
|
|
 Image description: Text describes the offer to NWRESD staff to shop at the Nike Company Store. The pass is good from April 8-April 30. Staff are limited to 30 items or $3,000 in products before the discount. Staff are not allowed to resell items or receive reimbursements.
|
|
|
All NWRESD are invited to shop at the Nike Company Store now through April 30. Be sure to take a copy of the linked invitation, a photo I.D. and your staff badge as proof of affiliation with NWRESD. Email hrhelp@nwresd.k12.or.us if you need to request a badge.
|
|
Identity Management Day is Tomorrow
CTA is a champion organization of Identity Management Day. Your identity, security and digital privacy are important to us on April 11 and every day. Here are our top tips for keeping your data private:
- Never share or reuse a password.
- Create strong passwords.
- Recognize and report phishing attempts. Phishing is when criminals use fake emails, social media posts or direct messages with the goal of luring you to click on a bad link or download a malicious attachment.
If you’re not sure about a message, it’s better to check with our technology team. Send suspicious emails or other cybersecurity questions to support@cascadetech.org.
Attend an Instructional Technology Training
Learn How to Use Canva: 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. Join us April 20, 27 or 28.
Dive Into Equity Universal Design for Learning: We have two sessions left on universal design for learning. Our next session is from 3:30-4:15 p.m. on April 18. We’ll talk about how CS Unplugged can help you provide computer science and computational thinking experiences for students without anyone needing access to a device. All sessions will be recorded and shared on NWRESD’s YouTube Channel and resources will be linked on the Instructional Technology Site.
Questions? Email instructional technology specialist Jodi LePla.
|
|
Take our Short Wellness Poll
Please take our wellness survey. It is only three questions and will help us understand our progress on the goals we set this school year. All participants will be included in a random drawing for a $25 wellness mini-grant. The poll is open for one week only. The final day to fill it in will be Monday April 17. Thank you for your valuable time and feedback.
|
|
Join Us for a Free Art Wellness Offering Wednesday Afternoons |
|
|
NWRESD is pleased to announce a new drop-in art offering for staff. These gatherings will be held every Wednesday from 2-5 p.m. in the Hillside Room at the Washington Service Center. Art therapy intern Celina Paul will lead several mindfulness art activities. These are a great opportunity to immerse yourself and reset your nervous system. No previous art experience is needed. Just bring yourself and some gentle curiosity.
April topics:
- April 12: Create a personalized button
- April 19: Gelli plate printmaking
- April 26: Beading
Wellness Resources:
|
|
|
Thanks to Maureen Crawford-Markasky, instructional assistant at Cascade Academy, for submitting some fun photos of the staff appreciation cart at Cascade and Pacific Academies.
Every Friday, co-principals Bethany Bowers and Cara Olson Sawyer dress up in playful costumes and travel around the schools offering staff sweet and savory snacks and cofee/tea as a gesture of appreciation.
Tim Prosser, a special education teacher at Cascade Academy, says the wellness committee proposed the idea. “I think it’s just a really nice touch to help build community at our programs, and it’s a small gesture that makes our staff feel appreciated and recognized,” Tim says.
 From left: Jon Tannler, our social-emotional learning schools nurse, poses for a photo with Cara Olson Sawyer, co-principal of Cascade and Pacific Academies. Photos by Maureen Crawford-Markasky.
|
|
 From left: Tim Prosser, a special education teacher at Cascade Academy, considers his snack choices while Bethany Bowers and Cara Olson Sawyer look on.
|
|
The Monday Memo is an update for all Northwest Regional Education Service District staff. Would you like to see your team's work featured? Email communications. |
|
|
|
|
