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School-Wide Improvement

SOREN and BELONG Partners Meet with Educators

SOREN and BELONG Partners Meet with Educators

By News, School Improvement Services, School-Wide Improvement

On Thursday, May 16th, educators from across Southern Oregon came together to collaborate, connect, and reflect on their past year of work in partnership with the Southern Oregon Regional Educator Network (SOREN) and BELONG Partners, a community partner and non-profit based in Seattle. Over the past 5 years, SOREN and BELONG have worked together to increase Safety, Significance, and Belonging in the experiences of regional educators, students, and families. One element of this partnership is using a systems lensĀ to support whole schools with trauma informed, culturally relevant and sustaining professional learning, data teams, and tiered staff and student support systems.Ā 

Thursdayā€™s Convening drew school teams from all over the region, from Brookings to Butte Falls, representing nine schools across four counties. The Southern Oregon REN would like to extend deep appreciation for our partner schools and the incredible teachers, leaders, students, and families who are doing this work in schools every day. THANK YOU to Azalea, Bonanza, Butte Falls Charter, Chiloquin, Henley, Kalmiopsis, Lincoln, Mae Richardson, and The Valley School for sharing your wisdom and experience with others!

Summer Reading 2024 Tips

By News, School Improvement Services, School-Wide Improvement

Reading over the summer helps students avoid summer learning loss, numerous studies show ā€“ but even more importantly, itā€™s a chance for students to focus on the joy of reading, choosing their own books and becoming lifelong readers.

With many school libraries closed for the summer, where can children and teens find books, both in print and online? Here are a few suggestions.

  • Start with your public library! Summer reading programs with booklists, prizes and events start in June at Josephine, Jackson, and Klamath CountyĀ libraries.
  • Ebooks and audiobooks are always ready to check out, from wherever you are. Get an instant library card for 30 days for JacksonĀ and JosephineĀ Counties, then visit to make it permanent. Or visit a Klamath County Public Library in person for a library card with access to Libby/Overdrive.
  • If your school district provides Sora/Overdrive, you can use Sora Sweet ReadsĀ all summer long. To find out if you have access, search hereĀ –Ā  type the full school district name, if your school doesnā€™t come up. Add even more ebooks through Public Library Connect (video here).

Other free sources of books and read-aloud videos (younger children):

 

Classroom

ANNUAL LIBRARY SYMPOSIUM RETURNS

By News, School Improvement Services, School-Wide Improvement

Two full-day Library Symposiums – one in Medford on April 17 and one in Klamath Falls April 18 – reached more than 80 library staff and provided training on topics from weeding outdated books to adding diverse books to school library collections.

Attendees came away with a wealth of new knowledge, along with new hardcover books for their collections and a tote bag one attendee called ā€œfabulousā€. ā€œThe book talks were fantastic and I loved the fresh ideas for my space! Well worth the time,ā€ another library staff member said.

Sponsored by Southern Oregon Education Services District, the library events were organized by four contract librarians: Marie Fegentrager, Thomas Moll, Michelle Wardrip, and Miranda Doyle. Other presenters included Jen Maurer, the school library consultant for the State of Oregon, and several public librarians, who did a series of booktalks and shared their library resources. The training sessions were open to any interested librarians and paraprofessionals.

ā€œI especially appreciated the session taught by Jen Maurer on collection development, emphasizing ā€˜windows and mirrors,ā€™ recognizing bias, representation, etc.Ā  We need to hear that again and again,ā€ one symposium attendee commented.

A grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the State Library of Oregon provided a professional book called ā€œGame Changer! Book Access for All Kidsā€œ to each participant, at least one diverse book of their choice, and also treated attendees to coffee and working breakfast/lunches during the symposiums.

In addition to the presentations, library staff from around Southern Oregon took this rare chance to gather and network. ā€œThe interaction and discussion with other library workers was also useful as it’s not an opportunity that arises often,ā€ one person in attendance commented. ā€œGood mix of learning, bonding, and asking how others have done things.ā€

Another noted, ā€œThe camaraderie was really nice, especially the appreciation for paraprofessionals like me.ā€

Special thanks to SOESD Administrative Assistant Nancy Hayes, who took care of all the details for both events (including the sought-after tote bags), and to Mark Angle-Hobson, SOESD Director of School Improvement Services, who made all of it possible.

Award

SOESD Librarian Receives Award

By News, School Improvement Services, School-Wide Improvement

Congratulations to Miranda Doyle, recipient of the Oregon Library Association Intellectual Freedom Champion Award! So incredibly well-deserved for her endless efforts on behalf of studentsā€™ freedom to read. Thank you, Miranda, for all you do!

“I second that,” echoed School Library Consultant Jen Maurer with the State Library of Oregon. “Miranda, you were fantastic in your role as the OASL Intellectual Freedom Representative ā€“ a calm, knowledgeable, and relentless supporter of intellectual freedom and of library staff who were in the midst of material challenges. Thank you for your many years of valuable service.”

Another SOESD Librarian, Marie Felgentrager has taken over the role of OASL Intellectual Freedom Representative. We appreciate Marie for taking on this role with the same dedication. Regarding Marie, Jen Maurer said, “youā€™re a great fit, and I can tell you have the same passion to protect intellectual freedom.”

Congratulations, Miranda. And, thank you, Marie!

Herald & News Article: Top of the Class: Chiloquin Elementary School principal Rita Hepper receives state award

Herald & News Article: Top of the Class: Chiloquin Elementary School principal Rita Hepper receives state award

By News, School Improvement Services, School-Wide Improvement

If your bosses drop in unannounced, itā€™s rarely ever a good thing. However, for a local principal, it was to receive a major pat on the back.

When the director of the elementary curriculum for the Klamath County School District (KCSD), accompanied by the superintendent and the executive director of the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA) showed up at Chiloquin Elementary School with her two children in tow Wednesday morning, principal Rita Hepper could only ask, ā€œWhatā€™s happening?ā€

Read the article.

Teach from your Best Self

Article: Avoiding Burnout Through a Mindset of Acceptance

By News, School Improvement Services, School-Wide Improvement

This blog post was written by Jay Schroder, author of Teach From Your Best Self: A Teacherā€™s Guide to Thriving in the Classroom.Ā He has taught high school English and social studies for the past twenty-four years in both mainstream and alternative education settings. Jay is alsoĀ the 2022 recipient of the National Council of Teacherā€™s of English Teacher of Excellence Award.

Read the article.

KCC Welding Instructor Kai Connects with Students

By College and Career (CC4A) / STEAM, News, School Improvement Services, School-Wide Improvement

Kai Graduated from Henley High School in 2022 and always thought she would become a doctor or a veterinarian. The COVID Pandemic hit and Kaiā€™s desires to move across the country and study medicine were replaced by wanting to do something closer to home. Kai headed to Klamath Community College and took a YouScience career Aptitude and Interest test to help her plan her next steps. The results of her aptitude and interests test encouraged Kai to pursue careers in machining, welding, engineering, and mechanics. This didnā€™t surprise her as she grew up in a mechanically inclined family working on cars. Kai chose to take an entry-level welding class believing that welding was a skill that would always be needed and allow her to make a good living. The beginning was hard, Kai had never welded before. Slowly, but surely, welding started to make sense and it became more fun as her skills progressed. Kai was employed by the welding program as part of her Associateā€™s Degree work experience. A welding instructor opening came up and Kai was offered a job as a KCC instructor. ā€œThe beginning students are my favorite,ā€ said Ranson. ā€œSeeing a new student who has no skills and is full of frustration progress week by week and grow into a competent welder is my favorite thing about being an instructor. Watching the happiness and joy on their faces as they improve makes me enjoy my job.ā€ Ransonā€™s connection with her beginner students runs deep and she gets emotional when they move on to the next class in the sequence, ā€œIt’s bittersweet when they learn the skills they need to move on, I miss them a lot.ā€

ā€œTeaching is hard, it’s a delicate balance between showing the students what to do and using the correct words to help them understand new concepts,ā€ Ranson added. ā€œSometimes I have to come up with a different way to explain the same concept to different students and that can be challenging.ā€ Kai currently teaches Welding 101, stick welding, TIG welding, and wire feed welding at KCC. What does the future hold for her? ā€œI would like to explore other career paths that allow me to travel out of Klamath. I can always come home and I can always fall back on Welding. Skills are cool, skills are needed, and skills pay! Iā€™m excited to see so much attention being paid to the skilled trades right nowā€ On being asked about being a female in the trades and a female welding instructor Kai said, ā€œGirls have a place in the trades. I was motivated to show myself I could excel. I wanted to outwork everyone and I came to the welding shop from 8am to 4pm every day to develop my skills. Everyone can do what I did and I encourage you all to tryā€.

Oregon Regional Teacher of the Year Nominations are Now Open

By News, School Improvement Services, School-Wide Improvement

The Oregon Department of Education, in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, is pleased to announce the continuation of Oregon Regional Teacher of the Year to honor exemplary educators in every region of the state!

  • Nominations are open statewide through February 21, 2024
  • Oregon Education Service Districts will select a winner from their region
  • Regional Teachers of the Year will be honored across the state in May 2024!
  • One of the Regional Teachers of the Year will be named the 2025 Oregon Teacher of the Year in September 2024!

Regional Teachers of the Year will receive a cash prize of $1000 and will be celebrated across the state.Ā  The 2025 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.

Anyone can nominate a teacher! All Oregonians are encouraged to nominate their favorite teacher today at: oregonteacheroftheyear.org

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