Our History

SOREN was formed as a result of Senate Bill 182, which was passed by the Oregon Legislature in 2017. The Educator Advancement Council (EAC) was created as a public-nonprofit partnership through state statute to significantly improve professional supports for Oregon’s public educators. The council launched 10 Regional Educator Networks (RENs) across Oregon. The RENs facilitate a process that centers the voices of educators to operationalize meaningful, systemic changes to improve recruitment, retention, and professional learning. They do this work through a networked continuous improvement process; the RENs will not initially organize around a solution, program, or an initiative, but rather around improving systems of support for educators along the educator advancement continuum. All of the RENs are engaging in work that centers antiracist, culturally sustaining policies and practices to co-create racially affirming environments for Black, Indigenous, and educators of color (BIPoC).

Vision

To create affirming school environments where every single adult and child feels safe, knows they matter, and that they belong.

Mission

Our mission is to improve experiences and outcomes for every person in schools by connecting with courage and compassion to build empathy, shift limiting beliefs, inspire imagination, empower educators, improve school climate, radically transform systems, and ultimately – do no harm.

Who We Serve

13
School Districts
100
School Buildings
3500
Teachers
52000
Students
474381
People
3
Counties
10000
Square Miles
4
Sovereign Nations

The Leadership Team

Dr. Heidi Olivadoti

SOREN Coordinator

Jennifer Jones, M. Ed.

SOREN Mentor Project Coordinator

Nicolette Smith, M. Ed.

School Improvement Specialist
SOREN Project Lead

SOESD

As a sponsoring organization, SOESD has integrated strengths from past organizational structures and continues to improve the way we share leadership, coordinate regional work, and maximize impact.  To assure continuity and strong regional relationships, Dr. Heidi Olivadoti will continue in her role as regional coordinator for SOREN.   Nicolette Smith was hired in 2020 and will continue to serve in her role as SOREN Implementation Coach.  Dr. Mark Angle-Hobson, Director of Education Services and Aaron Cooke, Manager of Data Analytics at Southern Oregon Education Service District will also continue to provide vital support locally as well as on a regional and statewide scale.

Advisory Team

35 Licensed Educators

4 Mental Health/Public Safety/Restorative Justice

27 High Potential Groups/Historically and Underserved

Languages: French, German, Spanish, English

Our Partners

Internal Partners

SOESD REGIONAL REACH

  • Affinity Group Facilitators for BIPOC; White Anti-Racist; and SO Queer
  • Career and Technical Education
  • College and Career 4 All
  • Data Analytics
  • Diversity-Equity-Inclusion Workgroup
  • Early Learning Hub
  • Education Psychology
  • ELD/Emerging Bilingual
  • Increasing Regular Attendance
  • Indian Education
  • Klamath Promise
  • Migrant Education
  • Southern Oregon Mentor Consortium
  • Southern Oregon Success
  • Special Education
  • Student Success Act Advisors
  • Tribal History/Shared History Facilitator

REGIONAL EDUCATORS

  • ACES/Trauma-informed Care Experts
  • Curriculum Directors
  • Instructional Coaches
  • Mentors for Beginning Teachers and Administrators
  • Novice Educators (Mentees)
  • Oregon Education Association
  • Principals
  • School Counselors
  • School Improvement Specialists
  • Superintendents

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

  • Creative Supports, Inc.
  • Mental Health
  • Public Safety
  • Resolve: Restorative Justice

External Partners

CONSULTANTS, INFLUENCERS and/or PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

  • Bright Mornings Education: The Art of Coaching; Coaching for Equity; The Art of Coaching Teams
  • Corwin Publishing: Ricky Robertson
  • Research for Better Teaching Studying Skillful Teaching
  • BELONG Partners: Rooted in Relationships – Creating Equitable and Inclusive Classrooms; Kindergarten Readiness; Parenting the Positive Discipline Way
  • Learning Forward
  • Collaborative Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)
  • Aspen Institute: Collective Impact

DIVERSIFYING THE EDUCATOR WORKFORCE

  • North and South Medford High Schools
  • Rogue CC and Klamath CC
  • Southern Oregon University
    • Educator Prep
    • Education Leadership
    • Teacher Pathways

EQUITY CENTERED SUPPORTERS

  • Dignity Consulting: Culture of Dignity and Belonging Fellowships
  • MRC: Crafting Your Equity Lens, Educators of Color Empowerment Network
  • I Affirm Coalition

IMPROVEMENT and MEASUREMENT

  • Carnegie Foundation
  • Panorama School Climate Surveys
  • Thoughtexchange
  • Educator Advancement Council