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Monthly Messenger |
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Colleagues -
Our region’s youth have now stepped through their school entryways and their teachers and support staff are in full swing! September is always such an exciting time in our communities; the new school year is often full of promise … and with the full range of emotions for both students and staff.
In our first community newsletter of the year, I’m proud to share the many ways our educational partners across our four counties can engage with NWRESD this school year. Below, I hope you will see alignment between your priorities and our values of student success, equity, partnership and innovative service.
Last year, we worked shoulder-to-shoulder with you – our staff and partners – to update our strategic plan to meet the most urgent demands of the moment. Here are some highlights of the work this new strategic plan will drive:
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A commitment to co-design: We believe that when supported and resourced, communities can identify, plan for and solve their own problems. Through a variety of community engagement and partnership strategies (including liberatory design, story circles and empathy interviews), NWRESD is committed to designing with – not for – the users of our services. This commitment will drive our interactions with community partners and our school districts.
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Inclusive preschool and child care expansion: Through community preschool partnerships and facility expansion efforts (such as the new Clatsop Service Center location within Astoria School District’s Gray Elementary School and the purchase of a new 51,140 square foot early learning building in Hillsboro), we are expanding inclusive early learning settings for young children furthest from opportunity.
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Data-driven efforts to improve student literacy and education across the region: Through regional data systems and data-based teaming, we commit to driving progress in key indicators for student engagement and academic success. These include attendance, 3rd grade reading, 9th grade on track, on-time graduation, career-technical program participation and obtaining college credit while in high school.
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Educator retention and recruitment efforts: Through the Regional Educator Network, Diverse Educator Pathways and post-secondary partnerships across the region, we are focused on expanding and diversifying our educator workforce, including in specialty areas like speech-language pathology, physical therapy and special education teaching.
As you scroll through the resources, stories and events below, I think you’ll find meaningful ways that NWRESD’s work advances our shared priorities to ensure that every student is educated, equipped and inspired to achieve their full potential and enrich their communities.
As always, I’d love to hear your feedback and ideas as we strive to be the very best education service partner.
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In partnership –
 Dan Goldman
Superintendent
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 A preschooler plays with bubbles during the free play portion of a playgroup at our Beaverton Early Childhood Center. A typical playgroup session looks a lot like a preschool experience. Colorful posters with photos of children feeling various emotions cover the walls of the classroom, a huge rug with every letter in the alphabet covers the floor and books and puzzles line the bookshelves. Photo by Tracey Goldner.
Research shows that when children with disabilities are able to learn alongside their typically developing peers, everyone benefits. Children without disabilities are more likely to learn compassion and empathy and be more accepting of differences.
Our Beaverton, Hillsboro and Tualatin early learning centers are hosting free preschool and playgroups for children ages 3-5 who are typically developing so they can learn and play alongside children who receive early childhood special education services from us.
We invite preschool-age children to join us for one of several free preschool and playgroup opportunities throughout Washington County.
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 From left - Saray Flores, Sabi Velasco and Yesenia Flores pose for a photo at the Amazing Minds Child Development Center in Aloha. Photo by Jennifer Youngblood.
On Tuesday, September 12, two Amazing Minds Child Development Center locations will receive recognition from the Northwest Regional Education Service District Board of Directors for exemplifying inclusive partnership preschools.
In the K-12 education system, federal and state laws protect the rights of children with disabilities. However, families with young children who have delays or disabilities are too often rejected from the already limited early learning opportunities.
Preschools like Amazing Minds model critically important community spaces. It’s a matter of social justice for the families seeking care and a matter of access and opportunity for young children with disabilities and delays. Furthermore, data shows that everyone benefits when preschools create inclusive environments where typically developing children can learn about accepting difference, empathy and compassion.
We interviewed Jenny Youngblood, an early childhood special education teacher with NWRESD, to understand what makes Amazing Minds Child Development Center stand out.
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In the world of school finance, there is only one nationally recognized certification available. It’s called the Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations (SFO). This past August, Northwest Regional Education Service District’s finance director, Tera VanDyke, received her SFO certification.
The certification, which is awarded by the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO), includes a proctored exam on topics such as accounting and school business management. Applicants must also meet certain work and educational experience requirements and adhere to the ASBO’s international certification code of conduct.
Tera joins a cadre of only 23 other Oregon school business professionals who currently hold this designation.
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NWRESD’s Regional Educator Network is now accepting applications from educators and education allies in Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook and Washington counties who want to help diversify Oregon’s education workforce.
We are looking for committee members who collectively offer a broad range of voices that represent a wide array of lived experiences, geographic locations and professional experiences, including:
- current practicing educators across different grade levels
- current practicing educators who reflect student demographics
- state agency representatives
- school board members
- professional education association members
- early learning providers and professionals
- members of federally recognized tribes of Oregon
- community-based education organization staff
- post-secondary institution representatives
- district superintendents
The network is tasked with creating school environments that support and honor educators of color so that they are more likely to join the teaching profession and stay in their positions. Participants will be compensated for their time, and substitute costs will be covered.
Applications are due Tuesday, Sept. 19.
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As many of you know, in the fall of 2021, Senate Bill 817 was passed. This bill removed the Class C violation of truancy in Oregon. As a result, Oregon county courts no longer accept truancy citations. Therefore, NWRESD’s attendance team will no longer issue citations for truancy. This is a shift in approach for us and for many of your schools.
In addition, state legislation confused this issue for folks last spring. At first, a bill was introduced that would have made truancy fines more severe. However, an amendment to that bill removed fines altogether. The state is now launching a state task force to plan how to approach this complicated issue.
All the while – nationally and here at home – attendance rates that plummeted during the pandemic have not fully recovered. Our attendance team at NWRESD has found that using a restorative model and preventative approach results in more lasting positive changes than citations. That being said, we know that school teams are busy with so many things and losing the truancy citation might feel like a big deal.
Our Plan for 2023-24
NWRESD will continue to have referral services billed at an hourly rate for more individualized support with home visits, reconnection meetings and prevention work. Our team also offers several other services that your school and district teams can access as part of our core support at no additional cost.
For example, we host monthly and quarterly professional development around tiered attendance supports and what research tells us about best practices for school teams. Our team lead, Whitney Wagner, also provides coaching and training sessions for individual school teams. You can read more about our attendance services options here.
Please email Whitney Wagner with questions, ideas, or to discuss other options. We look forward to supporting you in this important work.
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Under Construction! New Professional Learning Calendar Coming Soon.
One of our primary purposes as an agency is to connect K-12 educators, preschool partners and child care providers to professional learning that will help their children thrive academically and feel included in their early learning and public education settings. In an effort to make our professional learning events more available to you, we are making improvements to how we share events.
Through a partnership with Southern Oregon ESD, we are testing and launching a new events management system called PDNetworks. This system will allow you to browse our professional learning offerings, collect PDUs and manage event registrations. Later this month, we will also launch a monthly email announcement that highlights professional learning events. We look forward to hearing your feedback.
Classroom Arrangement and Use of Visuals in the Classroom for Students with ASD
09/19/2023 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Virtual via Zoom
For preschool, Head Start, child care center directors, teachers, assistants, and providers. This free, three-hour training will teach the importance, need, assessment, development, and implementation of a structured classroom environment and use of visuals to maximize learning for students with autism. Learn more and register.
Intro to PBIS Pyramid Model with a Focus on Foundational Tier 1 Strategies
09/26/2023 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM | Virtual via Zoom
For preschool, Head Start, child care center directors, teachers, assistants, and providers. This free training offers an overview of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Pyramid Model with a focus on Implementing Foundational Tier 1 strategies. Learn more and register.
School Safety and Prevention Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
9/28-9/29/2023 8:00 - 4:00 PM | In Person (Hillsboro, OR)
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is an in-depth, two-day workshop that prepares individuals to provide suicide first aid intervention using LivingWorks’ evidence-based Pathway for Assisting Life (PAL) model. It teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Learn more and register.
Manufacturing Day
10/06/2023 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM | OMIC Training Center at PCC Columbia County Center
Manufacturing Day is back! Join us in Columbia County as we introduce students to the wonderful world of manufacturing. Experience live demonstrations of 3D printing, laser cutting, and virtual welding. The event offers activities that spark creativity and showcase the latest opportunities in advanced manufacturing. Register your class to attend here or review the event FAQ.
2023 Oregon ion MTSS Users Conference
10/13/2023 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | In Person (Oregon Coast)
Ion’s conference is back and this time is happening at the coast. Topics will include: furthering Implementation of MTSS, hands-on ion software training, secondary literacy interventions, and more. Register here for the event.
To learn about additional MTSS events and support offered by NWRESD visit our webpage.
Story Circle Training with Rose McGee
10/20/2023 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM | In Person (Hillsboro, OR)
Come learn how to conduct a story circle from well-known facilitator Rose McGee. A story circle is a small group of individuals in a circle, sharing stories — usually from their own experiences or imagination — focusing on a common theme. The art of the story circle is woven in a tapestry of relevance, listening, sharing and moving into the necessary actions needed for acquiring your individual and team goals. Learn more and register.
Save the Date: codeORcreateNW
11/03-11/04/2023 All Day | Clatsop County
Based on your feedback, we’re offering our annual student computer science challenge this fall. Mark your calendars for Nov. 3-4, and get ready for our second annual codeORcreateNW event. Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop about this event and more career and college readiness opportunities.
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The Monthly Messenger is a monthly update for Northwest Regional Education Service District partners. Would you like to see your team's work featured? Email communications. |
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