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Greetings colleagues -
Each February, school boards across the region review our Local Service Plan for the next school year. NWRESD board members, administrators and other program leaders join me in presenting to school district decision-makers so they understand our important, often under the radar, role in their district. I feel grateful for the opportunity to attend these board meetings and brag about the amazing work our educators do. Once the Local Service Plan is approved, school district leaders start selecting the services they will purchase from the ESD.
You can browse the Local Service Plan that each of our 20 component school district boards are thumbing through this month.
I also want to get two important dates on your calendar:
- Wake Up Everybody: Cascade Alliance for Equity (CAFE) Northwest Summit is an entirely student-led conference scheduled for May 29 at Wingspan Event and Conference Center in Hillsboro.
- An AI symposium on May 14 at the University of Portland will inspire innovative approaches to school leadership while balancing ethics in the age of artificial intelligence. This event is planned in partnership with Multnomah and Clackamas ESDs.
I hope you hold the date on your calendars and look for more information in your inbox soon.
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As always, enjoy the enclosed news. In partnership –
 Dan Goldman
Superintendent
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 More than 40 people attended the 2024 OSBA Washington County Legislator Summit. The event gives school board members an opportunity to meet with local legislators ahead of the legislative session. In recent years, students have shared their own educational experiences. Photos by Kelsey Soltysiak.
School board members are busy and so are Oregon legislators. So every January, Northwest Regional ESD and the Oregon School Boards Association bring together school board members, student representatives, educators and lawmakers to discuss educational issues before the legislative session. This year’s event took place on Jan. 24 at our regional office.
Educational Presentations
Students, families and educators shared how recent educational investments are making a difference in their lives. Education and policy leaders also cautioned lawmakers against using Student Success Act funds – which promise new resources and opportunities in key areas for expansion and growth – to backfill inadequate general funding.
Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE)
 Theodore Vu, a student who receives early childhood special education services from NWRESD, poses for a photo on his first day of preschool. Photo courtesy of Suzanne Vu.
Superintendent Dan Goldman and Executive Director of Early Learning Stacy Rager advocated for adequate state investments in early intervention services. Through video, families told lawmakers about the critical services they receive from EI/ECSE educators. At the same time, service providers are overtaxed and struggling to meet all the needs they see in the birth to five populations they work with.
Read more about recent cuts made to EI/ECSE that are anticipated to decimate services.
Student Voice and Student Investment Accounts
Nate Pratt, a senior at Forest Grove High School and a school board student representative, talked about the additional services he and his classmates have received thanks to the student investment accounts funded through Oregon’s Student Success Act. He says he meets every other week with a guidance counselor who helps him pursue his educational and career ambitions.
Previously he hardly had any access to a counselor. He also called out newly established, critical opportunities for himself and his friends: a suicide prevention program and expanded arts opportunities like choir, AP music theory and a mariachi band that has performed for the Oregon State Senate.
 From left: Nate Pratt, a senior at Forest Grove, Samantha Parra, a senior at Glencoe High School, Gabriel Oropeza Cruz, a junior at Hillsboro High School, and Ezekiel Rendez-Gallegos, a sophomore also at Hillsboro High, each shared about their own educational experiences and how recent statewide investments such as the Student Success Act have made a difference in their lives.
Hillsboro student Samantha Parra shared that a recent internship had taught her how to market a small business. When she started her own jewelry business, she was able to put those new skills to use. She was excited to report that many of the students in her internship program were offered jobs after their internships ended.
And her skill-building doesn’t stop there. She has also worked at Ground Up, a student-run coffee shop inside First Tech Credit Union’s corporate office in Hillsboro. While there, she earned her food handler’s license, managed the stock and built relationships with local suppliers.
Her Hillsboro peers Gabriel Oropeza Cruz and Ezekiel Rendez-Gallegos promoted the bilingual, student-led Sí Se Puede Summer Camp where students learn about robotics, virtual reality, electronics soldering, drones, solar cars, vet tech, and more.
All of the opportunities these students have had are thanks to the student investment accounts, which aim to expand mental and behavioral health support, increase academic achievement and provide students with a more well-rounded education.
Table Conversations with Lawmakers
After watching the family and student presentations, lawmakers, school board members, district staff and students gathered around tables for informal discussions about top-of-mind topics.
 Sen. Suzanne Weber, who represents Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook and some portions of rural Washington County, meets with board members from the Banks and Gaston school districts and the superintendent of the Gaston School District to discuss the challenges that small, rural school districts face.
 Rep. Nathan Sosa (center), who represents the greater Hillsboro region, sat with students, board members and staff from Hillsboro School District. One of the legislative priorities he shared included youth apprenticeships and partnerships.
 Rep. Susan McLain (center), who represents Hillsboro, speaks with students, legislators and school board members from Hillsboro and the surrounding areas.
Looking Forward
To close out the evening, lawmakers presented their priority bills for this legislative session. Topics included university oversight, summer school programming, international baccalaureate diploma reciprocity, apprenticeships and school/business partnerships, school funding formulas, school safety, and mental health care in school-based health centers.
Participating school board members represented Banks, Beaverton, Forest Grove, Gaston, Hillsboro and Tigard-Tualatin.
Lawmakers in attendance included: Representatives Ben Bowman (Tigard), Farrah Chaichi (Beaverton), Susan McLain (Hillsboro), Courtney Neron (Tigard/Sherwood), Lisa Reynolds (Beaverton), Nathan Sosa (Hillsboro) and Jules Walters (Tualatin) and Senators Wlnsvey Campos (Aloha), Kate Lieber (Beaverton), Janeen Sollman (Hillsboro/Forest Grove) and Suzanne Weber (Tillamook).
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 Members of Northwest Regional ESD’s human resources team pose for a photo with their Diversity Spirit Achievement Award. From left: Grace Fasching, Kathy Fernandez, Isabell Gomez-Rios, Catherine Dalbey, Debbie Simons, Yolanda Coleman, Melinda Halverson and Lynsie Scharpf. Not pictured: Marina Alvarez, Carol Helfer, Maria Navarro Ambriz, Michelle Odell and Kelly Thayer. Debbie Simons, NWRESD’s chief human resources officer says the award was an exciting surprise. Photo by Tracey Goldner.
Northwest Regional ESD’s human resources team recently received a Diversity Spirit Achievement Award from the Diversity Recruiters Network and City Career Fair during a Diversity Employment Day event held on Jan. 24 in Portland, Oregon. Other recipients of the award are Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette and OnPoint Community Credit Union. NWRESD was selected from among a pool of 25 employers.
The team supports a regional grow-your-own program that aims to diversify the educator workforce. In our four-county region, 84% of educators identify as white, yet about 50% of students identify as a person of color. The program is working to ensure more people of color join the teaching workforce so that students see themselves and their own experiences represented in their classrooms. Research shows that students of color and white students benefit from more diverse teachers.
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 The colors in this artwork are deeply rooted in Black and African American history. While many African flags share similar shades of green, red and yellow, each color represents different elements of Black history. Black represents a shared identity, one of nobility and belonging. Green symbolizes rich vegetation and nature. Red embodies Black and African American history with inequities, triumphs and liberation. This is also represented by the woven and intertwined fabric embedded in the artwork. Yellow sun rays represent community, peace, justice and optimism for the triumphs yet to come.
At the Jan. 9 regular board meeting, our board of directors proclaimed Feb. 1 - March 1, 2024, as Black History Month. This proclamation recognizes the heritages, cultures and history of Black and African Americans and the contributions of Black and African Americans to the United States.
Throughout history through the present day, Black and African Americans have experienced both triumphs and challenges. They have endured the inhumanity of injustices and inequities, not just from societal and institutional biases and racism rooted in white supremacy, but also from other Americans.
Across generations, countless Black and African Americans have demonstrated profound moral courage and resilience to help shape our society for the better. Their contributions have enriched America and the lives of every American. It is essential that all Americans acknowledge and express gratitude for these contributions.
We've curated educational resources to help you recognize, celebrate and learn more about Black History Month.
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 Image description: A bar chart shows the graduation rates for NWRESD's four-county region, which includes Clastop, Columbia, Tillamook and Washington counties, compared to the state rates. There are bars for total students and students of color. The NWRESD region consistently outperformed the state rates for both total students and students of color. In 2022-23, 87.3% of students from our region graduated while 81.3% of students statewide graduated. During that same year, 85.8% of students of color in our region graduated while 75.8% graduated statewide.
As you’ve probably seen in the headlines, the Oregon Department of Education recently released graduation rates. Students in our region consistently outperformed the state average when looking at all students and students of color. Compared against the state average, graduation rates were 6 percentage points higher for all students and 10 percentage points higher for students of color.
Tillamook and Washington counties saw the most positive trends. Nine of 10 districts in those counties increased their total graduation rates, and seven either improved or stabilized graduation rates for students of color.
Some of our rural districts experienced lower graduation rates than in the past. But Clatskanie saw improvement with an increase of 9 percentage points in total students and 14 percentage points in students of color.
Other districts with increased or sustained graduation rates included Banks, Nestucca Valley, Scappoose and Sherwood. More than 90% of all students and 95% of students of color there graduated on time.
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 Northwest Regional Education Service District is seeking candidates interested in serving the remainder of a four-year term in the higher education position on our board of directors.
The five elected members of NWRESD’s board will interview and vote for this appointed ESD board member at the March 12 board meeting. The newly elected member will take office immediately upon appointment. The term will end June 30, 2025.
Questions? Email Board Secretary Valerie White.
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 We’re always working to improve the career and college readiness services and support we provide to the 20 school districts in our region, and an important part of this work is hearing directly from high school students. Last year, we gathered valuable feedback from hundreds of students, so we have launched a 2024 career and technical education survey.
Please distribute the survey to all students, even those not currently enrolled in a career and technical education (CTE) course. The deadline is March 15.
We will provide every district with a summary report of your results in April. Email questions to Jaimie Brady, professional learning coach.
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 We all know dozens of phenomenal teachers — or more. Please take a moment to nominate one or two of them for this statewide recognition. And share the word with families and partners so they can do the same.
Here are the key dates:
- Nominations are due Feb. 21
- Teachers will submit their applications by April 5
- Our teacher of the year panel will select a winner from our region in the spring
- Regional teachers of the year will be honored across the state in September
- In October 2024 one of the regional teachers of the year will be named the 2024-25 Oregon teacher of the year and will be eligible to apply for the national honor
Regional teachers of the year will receive a cash prize of $1,000 and will be celebrated across the state. The 2024-25 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.
Read about our region’s 2023-24 teacher of the year Carissa Martos.
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 Education support professionals work together with teachers and administrators in Oregon’s schools to keep schools organized, safe, clean, secure and operational. They ensure students are fed, transported to and from school, cared for and connected to any needed services and resources. Please take a moment to recognize these dedicated staff for their work on behalf of students and school communities.
Nominations are due Feb. 21. To be nominated, education support professionals must work in an Oregon K-12 public school or school district and meet the definition of an education support professional in Oregon.
The 2024 Oregon Education Support Professional of the Year will receive a $5,000 award during a surprise ceremony to be held later this spring.
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ASIST: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
Date: Feb. 22-23 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (must attend both days)
Location: Northwest Regional ESD - Washington Service Center (5825 NE Ray Circle Hillsboro, 97124)
ASIST is an in-depth, two-day workshop that prepares people to provide suicide first aid intervention using an 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. State guidelines recommend that each school building have at least two people who are ASIST-trained, but larger buildings would benefit from having more people trained.
This training is for school administrators, counselors, social workers, deans of students, mental health specialists, behavior specialists, special education educators, wellness room support staff, and others in student support roles. Register for ASIST: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training.
Section 504: In-Depth Overview
Date: Feb. 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: Northwest Regional ESD - Washington Service Center (5825 NE Ray Circle Hillsboro, 97124)
This workshop is for 504 coordinators, 504 case managers, district and building administrators, student services directors, school counselors and school nurses. The workshop covers Section 504, disability civil rights, and district obligations set forth by the Rehabilitation Act and the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
Using case scenarios, this training targets core concepts including nondiscrimination; identification, evaluation and placement; the role of the 504 coordinator/case manager; engaging the 504 team; and the newly signed law on abbreviated school day program placements for students with disabilities (SB 819). Register for Section 504 In-Depth Overview.
SEL State Standards Collaborative
Date: Feb. 29 and April 2 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Northwest Regional ESD - Washington Service Center (5825 NE Ray Circle Hillsboro, 97124)
These two SEL collaboratives will gather, support and provide collaborative planning time for educators who want to learn more and/or who will be responsible for implementing Oregon’s new Transformative Social and Emotional Learning Framework & Standards.
Learn more and register for part one | Learn more and register for part two
ORTIi 2024 Annual Spring Conference
Date: April 4 and 5
Location: The Graduate Hotel in Eugene, Oregon
At this year's conference, we focus on Oregon's Commitment to Literacy for ALL, with a keynote presentation from Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, author of Literacy Foundations for English Learners, endnote from Dr. Anita Archer, author of Explicit Instruction, and a special state-of-the-state presentation from the Oregon Department of Education. Learn more and register.
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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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