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Oregon Honors the 2023 Education Support Professional of the Year Zandra Jansma!

By News

The Oregon Department of Education and Oregon State Lottery partner to recognize the incredible efforts and impact of Education Support Professionals in Oregon.

(Merlin, OR.) – In a surprise announcement event today, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) Director Colt Gill joined Three Rivers School District Superintendent David Valenzuela and Southern Oregon Success Academy (SOSA) Principal Mike Herzog in honoring Zandra Jansma as Oregon’s 2023 Education Support Professional of the Year!

Photographs of the event will be added to this folder as they become available.

Zandra Jansma is the Office Manager (and so much more) at the Southern Oregon Success Academy.

“The amazing work Zandra does for students and staff on a daily basis is truly inspiring,” said Governor Tina Kotek. “Her continued efforts to go above and beyond to develop personal connections with students is what turns a school into a community. My vision is for Oregon to be a place where every child has a safe place to receive a high-quality education. We can achieve that vision if we have more people like Zandra in our schools.”

“Zandra Jansma is one of the hardest working, most caring and dedicated members of the Three Rivers School District family. She has not only been an integral part of the success of SOSA over the years, but she has also been an integral part of so many students’ lives, seeing many to the goal of graduation,” said Superintendent David Valenzuela. “Southern Oregon Success Academy serves the greatest population of at-risk youth in the Three Rivers School District if not all of Josephine County. I cannot think of anyone better suited to support this school or this population of students, and more deserving of this award. Congratulations Zandra!”

“Zandra prioritizes connections with students in all aspects of her work, from finding the resources they need to providing emotional support and understanding,” said Colt Gill, Director of Oregon Department of Education. “Our schools are communities – and as we all know, it is not just the teachers and administrators, but all of the education support professionals who each play a critical role to ensure the school day flows smoothly and safely for students.”

Thanks to ODE’s partnership with the Oregon Lottery, Zandra received an award of $5,000 and a commemorative plaque. A matching plaque and banner were awarded to Southern Oregon Success Academy to mark Zandra’s achievements and her impact in the Three Rivers community.

“We’re proud to support Zandra’s work in the Three Rivers School District and her impressive commitment to serving students with care and understanding,” said Oregon Lottery Interim Director Mike Wells. “As her nomination illustrates, Zandra is making a difference as a school role model, working tirelessly to guide and love students affected by homelessness, poverty, and other challenges. Congratulations, Zandra.”

Program History

Oregon’s Education Support Professional of the Year Program results from House Bill 2964, passed by the Oregon Legislature in May of 2019. This bill directed ODE and Oregon Lottery to design and implement a program to honor an Oregon education support professional serving students in any grade from prekindergarten through grade 12. ESPs work with teachers and administrators in Oregon public schools to perform a variety of jobs promoting quality education, fostering positive learning environments, offering nutritious meals, providing reliable transportation, maintaining safe and clean schools for students and so much more. Educators nominated for Education Support Professional of the Year are employed by an Oregon public K-12 school or school district and meet the definition of an ESP in Oregon. Nominations for 2024 will open again soon on the Education Support Professional website. Be sure to nominate the life-changing ESPs in your school!

SOESD’s NEW On-Demand Online Courses Are Just a Click Away!

By News

SOESD is developing a series of on-demand, online courses that will allow you to participate in meaningful, relevant and interesting professional learning anytime, all the time. Our first on-demand course–Multi-Tiered System of Support–is available now. This course includes four modules. Participants have the option of delving into any or all of the modules that align with their interests and/or work role. Each module is worth one professional development unit.

Learn More & Register
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SECOND NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING

By News

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to ORS 294.426, that a public meeting of the Budget Committee of Southern Oregon Education Service District, serving the school districts in Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath Counties, will be held at 101 North Grape Street, Medford, OR, on May 10, 2023, at 6:00 pm for the purpose of receiving the budget message and budget document of said district for the fiscal year 2023-2024 and to receive comment from the public on the budget.  A second meeting of the budget committee is tentatively scheduled for May 17, 2023 at 6:00 pm and public comment on the budget will also be taken at this meeting.

These are public meetings where deliberations of the budget committee will take place, and any person may appear and discuss proposed programs with the budget committee at that time. To the extent reasonably possible, opportunity will be provided for members of the general public to access and attend these meetings remotely. A copy of the proposed budget document and the link to join the meeting via video/audio conference will be available on or after May 5, 2023 at www.soesd.k12.or.us or obtained via email request to administration@soesd.k12.or.us.  Public comment will be taken during the meeting.

The first notice of the budget committee meeting was published in the Grants Pass Daily Courier and posted on the Southern Oregon Education Service District website at: www.soesd.k12.or.us on April 19, 2023.

Scott Beveridge, Superintendent

Budget Officer

 

BYTESIZED FUN!

By News

Grades K-5: Discover the World of Computer Science

Kids can do Tech, too!
BYTESIZED FUN!

WHEN: 4/24 – 4/27, 2023 (Mon – Thurs)

WHERE: Oregon Connections

Click here for more info.

AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH

By Special Education

This Autism Awareness month, the SOESD Autism Department has moved beyond “awareness and acceptance” and toward “affirmation, inclusion, empowerment, and accommodation”. We are actively learning from Autistic individuals and aligning our practices with what they’ve taught us.

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SOESD is connecting education and industry

By Career and Technical Education, College and Career (CC4A) / STEAM, News

SOESD is connecting education and industry by co-sponsoring local tours with Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development (SOREDI) and Southern Oregon University (SOU). SOESD’s Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Departments collaborated to hold three tours emphasizing manufacturing during this school year. Two tours brought educators to local industries in Jackson and Josephine Counties. Highlighted were amazing world-class businesses right here in the Rogue Valley, including NIC Industries, Cascade Fire, Rogue Valley PreCast, Dan Foss, SOS Sanitation, Oregon Swiss Precision, Katana Craft and Playcraft Systems. Educators learned about potential employers’ hiring desires and needs, while making contacts for future career connected learning opportunities. On the other hand, initiated by Brian Robin, SOESD’s CTE Regional Coordinator, the “Meet Your Future Employees Tour: Manufacturing” brought personnel from local industry and post-secondary education to high schools to appreciate their CTE Manufacturing programs. Quotes from attendees included “I loved hearing (students’) passion for the work they are doing and for their instructors. I was impressed with their professionalism, maturity, and communication skills” and (I was impressed by) “their facilities and course offerings! They are working on some really dynamic projects. I also really enjoyed talking with the students directly about their experiences and the connections and plans they are making for their post high school life.” As Karla Clark, SOESD’s STEM Hub Director says, “Behind every CTE program is STEM.” These two departments of SOESD work together to get the latest trends and industry-specific knowledge into local students’ and educators’ hands. This is to help our youth be viable in today’s evolving job market. Keep an eye out for additional tours in the works!

Photos by WolffHam Media LLC.  Instagram: @Wolffham.media