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Pinehurst School Library Gets a Makeover, Thanks to ODE Grant

By News, School Improvement Services, School-Wide Improvement

Pinehurst Library pre-revitalization, with shelves jammed full of many outdated and unappealing books.

Pinehurst School renovated their library over the summer, thanks to a grant from the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), removing hundreds of shabby and outdated books.The school is now adding many brand-new and diverseĀ  titles to the shelves and cataloging the collection using the newly implemented Destiny library software.

ā€œWe are so grateful for the opportunity to give our library a sorely needed makeover,ā€ said District Administrator Deirdre Barber. ā€œIn a few short months, the library has gone from an unused room to a place where children are choosing and reading books! Itā€™s made everyone at Pinehurst so happy.ā€

The school received one of the 86 ESSER III grants to school districts, $10,000 for revitalizing their

school library. The grants were part of the pandemic recovery funds and could be spent on books, staff time to process them, and updated furnishing.Ā 

With advice from one of SOESDā€™s consulting librarians, Miranda Doyle, staff at the tiny rural school first went through the collection to weed books that were no longer appealing or useful. Many books were decades old and in poor condition, with information that was out of date.Ā 

Removing these books to leave the ones of current interest made a huge difference. Instead of packed but unappealing shelves, the library now has more space to display book covers and for browsing the much improved collection. Students and staff will also be able to use the Destiny catalog to look up and locate books, and to borrow them.

Pinehurst Library after the weeding project, with more engaging books and furniture, an appealing atmosphere, and with room to display book covers and for browsing the shelves.

The bulk of the grant goes to ordering new books, from award winners to popular series titles. Picture books, beginning readers, graphic novels and award-winning fiction are all part of the revitalization. The library is now more accessible, students will be more engaged with reading, and the collection reflects the students and the wider community.

Instructional Assistant Desiree Elder also praised the changes to the library.. ā€œOur newly renovated and updated library is not just a room with books: itā€™s a gateway to knowledge, a haven for imagination, and a treasure trove of endless possibilities for our community children.ā€Ā Ā 

For more information on the grants, seeĀ  School Library Revitalization Grant webpage.

SOESD ANNOUNCES SOUTHERN OREGON 2023-24 REGIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR

By News, School Improvement Services, School-Wide Improvement

On behalf of the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Lottery, Southern Oregon Education Service District (SOESD) is proud to announce the selection of Steve Kessler, Director of Bands at North Medford High School, as a 2023-24 Oregon Regional Teacher of the Year.Ā  Kessler was honored Wednesday in his band classroom while students cheered him on. He was awarded a check for $1000 from the Oregon Lottery.

SOESD convened a virtual Blue-Ribbon Panel made up of diverse and unbiased panel members who represented the geographic region of Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath counties. The panel, who reviewed many applications from a larger set of nominations, found that Kessler had the highest average rubric score of all candidates. The panelists made these observations during their deliberations:

  • Steve is inclusive, seeks student voice, and is very encouraging and motivating.
  • Steve sees band as “family” and articulates a commitment to all students.
  • Steve makes attempts to connect his students to composers for real-world connections.
  • Steve is very involved at the regional and national level, giving his students opportunities to be visible.
  • Steve has a keen awareness of social justice, and the role music plays in social justice.
  • Steve develops opportunities for his students (versus taking advantage of opportunities that become available).
  • The scope of Steve’s work extends far beyond the classroom.

The Oregon Teacher of the Year Program started in 1955 and is managed by the Oregon Department of Education.Ā  Anyone can nominate a candidate for the recognition, but teachers may not nominate themselves.Ā  Once selected, the Oregon Teacher of the Year is also a candidate to apply for the National Teacher of the Year recognition.Ā  The selected teacher serves as the face and voice of exemplary educators across the state of Oregon and engages and inspires other teachers and community leaders as a representative of the profession.

Oregon Department of Education chose in 2018-19 to expand the selection process for the nominees.Ā  The goal of the expansion is to honor teachers in every region of the state.Ā  Education Service Districts across Oregon reviewed applications submitted from their geographic region and facilitated a Blue-Ribbon Panel and review process to identify winners in their regions.

SOESD is proud of the amazing teachers in our three-county region, exemplified by Kessler, who are focused on quality teaching, learning, and student achievement.

Meet the School Improvement Team 2023-2024

By News, Uncategorized

SOESDā€™s School Improvement Team supports our component districts in a variety of ways including:

  • Attendance and Engagement
  • Student Behavioral Health and Wellness
  • Student Success and Integrated Planning
  • Regional Educator Network (SOREN) including mentoring for novice educators
  • English Learners
  • Migrant Education
  • Indian Education
  • Southern Oregon Black/African American Student Success (SOBAASS)
  • STE[A]M Hub
  • Career Connected Learning
  • C3, our career and college collaborative
  • Southern Oregon Career and Technical Education Consortium (SOCTEC)
  • Grow Your Own
  • Educational Technology and Data Analytics, including the Ed Tech Cadre
  • Division 22 Library Media Services
  • Klamath Promise
  • Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
  • ODEā€™s Integrated Guidance

Members of this team support our local school districts and provide service and leadership on a variety of regional and state initiatives, including:

Dr. Mark Angle-Hobson, Director of School Improvement Services, serves on

  • Oregon Department of Educationā€™s LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Advisory Group
  • Coalition of Oregon School Administratorā€™s (COSA) Equity Board
  • Resolve Center for Restorative Justice Board of Directors
  • Community of Stewards, Region 16 Comp Center (serving Alaska, Oregon and Washington)

Heather Armstrong, School Improvement Specialist, Southern Oregon STE[A]M Hub, serves on

  • Oregon Math Leaders, co-chair
  • Oregon Council of Teachers of Mathematics (OCTM), Area 8 Representative
  • Rural STEAM Leadership of Oregon, facilitator
  • Oregon Science Leaders

Karla Clark, Program Manager for the Southern Oregon STE[A]M Hub, serves on

  • ODEā€™s STEM/CTE Network State Planning Team
  • Statewide CTE Advisory Council
  • Oregon STEM
  • Rogue Workforce Partnerships and Business Education Partnerships
  • Associated General Contractors Workforce Coalition
  • Rural STEAM Leadership for Oregon
  • Statewide Chief Science Officers for Oregon
  • Oregon Connections/NEPRIS Collaborative
  • Oregon Career Connected Learning Design Team
  • Oregon YOUSCIENCE integration Lead
  • Statewide and Regional IGNITE
  • SOREDIā€™s ā€œTalentā€ Board
  • Josephine County Vocational / Mentor Committee

Aaron Cooke, Program Manager for Data and Integrated Instruction, serves on

  • Oregon Department of Educationā€™s Rules Advisory Committee
  • Oregon Department of Educationā€™s Remote Learning Advisory Committee
  • Southern Oregon Classroom Law Project Educator Advisory Committee
  • Josephine County Broadband Advisory Committee
  • Oregon Department of Educationā€™s EDTech Cadre
  • Oregon Digital Leaders Coalition, as Board Member
  • Oregon Department of Educationā€™s Integrated Technology and Learning Standards Committee
  • Southern Oregon Fire Ecology Education Board

Miranda Doyle, School Library Media Specialist, serves on

  • Oregon Association of School Libraries
  • Oregon Intellectual Freedom Committee

Jessie DuBose, Program Manager for Klamath Promise, serves on

  • Foundations for a Better Oregon, At-Large Board Member
  • OHSU Research in Oregonā€™s Community Review (ROCR) System Advisory Board
  • Oregon MESA Regional Equity Committee
  • Oregon Dual Credit Coordinators
  • SMART Reading Leadership Council for South Central Oregon
  • South-Central Early Learning Hub – Professional Advisory Committee
  • Cascade Health Alliance Community Advisory Council
  • Klamath County Commissioner Roundtable
  • Healthy Klamath Coalition
  • Tobacco Coalition (Klamath County)
  • Klamath Basin Career Connections Initiative
  • Klamath Youth Attendance Taskforce (YAT)
  • Klamath County School District School Improvement Advisory Committee
  • Klamath Falls City Schools Attendance Team
  • Ross Ragland Theater and Cultural Center, board member
  • Klamath County Well Water Work Group

Kylee Harrison, Coordinator for Student Behavioral Health and Wellness, serves on

  • Jackson County Suicide Prevention Coalition
  • Josephine County Suicide Prevention Coalition
  • Statewide SEB and SEL Collaborative
  • Jackson County Juvenile Justice Advisory Council
  • Jackson County Gang Task Force
  • Jackson Youth Systems of Care

Jacquie Jaquette, School Improvement Specialist, serves on

  • Jackson Care Connect Board Member
  • Jackson Care Connect, Community Advisory Committee
  • Statewide attendance, DEI Collaborative
  • SOREN Team
  • Jackson Youth System of Care
  • Jackson County Youth Development Work Group
  • Klamath Promise Planning Team
  • Klamath Youth Attendance Task Force

Jenni Jones, School Improvement Specialist for Mentoring, serves on

  • Chautauqua Poets and Writers Board President
  • Southern Oregon Computer Using Educators (SOCUE) Board Member
  • Oregon Association of School Libraries
  • ODE EdTech Cadre

Dr. Heidi Olivadoti, Southern Oregon REN Coordinator, serves on

  • Oregon Education Association – Region 3 Uniserv Council
  • Social Emotional Learning for Oregon (SEL4OR) Statewide SEL initiative
  • Southern Oregon Success
  • Family Connections
  • Transformative Education Leadership Fellow
  • Oregon Educator Advancement Council – Region F Educator Network

Brian Robin, CTE Regional Coordinator, serves on

  • ODEā€™s Career and Technical Education State Teachers Recruitment and Retention Team
  • ODEā€™s Career and Technical Education State Communications/Planning Team
  • ODEā€™s Career and Technical Education State Small/Rural/Remote Schools Planning Team
  • CTE Program of Study Stateside Standards Review Panel
  • CTE Perkins Reserve Grant Managers Panel
  • Oregon Housing & Community Services TeamOregonBuild Think Tank
  • Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (RAMP)
  • Rogue Healthcare Workforce Partnership
  • Associated General Contractors Workforce Coalition
  • Klamath Basin Career Connections Initiative

Andrea Townsend, School Improvement Coordinator, serves on

  • COSAā€™s Equity Board
  • Governorā€™s Quality Education Commission
  • ODEā€™s Ad-Hoc ELL committees/advisories
  • Regional ELL/Migrant /Indian Ed. Meetings
  • COSAā€™s Administrators of Color Affinity Group
  • Meyer Memorial Trust Fund EDI Collaborative
  • Oregon Equity Directors and Leaders Collaboration Meetings

Focused locally, leading regionally, and serving statewide, the School Improvement Team centers students and families to improve experiences and outcomes for all.

CORE VALUES: safety | signiļ¬cance | belonging

SOUTHERN OREGON SUCCESS INVITED TO PRESENT AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE

By News, School Improvement Services, School-Wide Improvement

Southern Oregon Success, a cross-sector collaboration for Jackson and Josephine counties, has been invited to be one of three community organizations to present at the first meeting of the Federal Interagency Task Force for Trauma-informed Care, hosted by SAMHSA, the federal government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services program.Ā 

Two other regional trauma-informed collaborations, one from Baltimore, Maryland and one from Kanas City, Missouri, will also be highlighted. The Task Force has members from numerous federal departments, including the Department of Education, the Department of Health & Human Services and others.Ā 

The two-day Summit, titled “Creating an Agenda for Trauma-informed Care:Ā Ā What Have We Learned and Charting Our Way Forward,” will be held at the SAMHSA headquarters inĀ Rockville, Maryland on July 25 & 26.Ā 

Southern Oregon Success is a community initiative of the Southern Oregon Education Service District (SOESD) and is being recognized for its work to increase awareness of trauma and resilience through its Southern Oregon ACEs Training Team, which has presented over 550 trainings to just under 18,000 participants in Jackson and Josephine counties since 2016.Ā 

The collaboration is also being asked to present information to the Task Force on the wide variety of Southern Oregon Success initiatives that have grown out of the ACEs trainings, particularly the Southern Oregon Early Childhood Support Network launched this spring. Ā 

The Early Childhood Support Network has set a goal of making sure every child in our region has the chance to enter Kindergarten ready to thrive. The network centers on working with families and community partners to develop a Family Success Plan for families who are thinking of becoming pregnant, are pregnant or have children under the age of 5. Once the Family Success Plans are developed by families and their trusted community partner, flexible funding is provided to the family and the community partner to help families meet the goals they have set. With navigation help by the community partner, each family can access the support and resources from all parts of the network to make sure they have the best possible chance to succeed.Ā 

“Our approach is very straightforward,” reports Southern Oregon Success Program Manager, Peter Buckley. “We believe that if families are strong, children will thrive.”Ā 

In addition to the Early Childhood Support Network, Southern Oregon Success initiatives also include efforts to align Preschool and K12 education and to increase the number of School Based Health Centers in every K12 school district in our region. The collaboration also is focused on sustaining and then expanding child care options, securing health care coverage for early childhood educators, increasing the region’s behavioral health workforce and aligning efforts to meet goals for family stability that are set out in the region’s Community Health Improvement Plan.Ā 

In addition, Southern Oregon Success convenes monthly meetings of its Youth Development Work Group for all school districts, agencies and organizations working with youth ages 6 to 24 to make sure that everything possible is being done to align services and supports for the success of the next generation of parents.Ā 

Southern Oregon Success will be represented at the Summit by Bob Lieberman, former CEO of Kairos with over 40 years of experience in the mental health field. Lieberman is one of the founding members of the Southern Oregon Success collaboration and serves as the lead trainer for the Southern Oregon Success ACEs Training Team as well as the regional coordinator of the Southern Oregon Family Resilience Project that teams Southern Oregon Success with three other collaborations doing trauma-informed work in Klamath, Lake, Coos, Curry and Douglas counties.Ā 

“We very much appreciate the invitation to present the work in our region and throughout Southern Oregon to the Federal Inter-Agency Task Force and SAMHSA,” Buckley said. “We see it as recognition of the collaborative work with our Early Learning Hub and all of our community partners in education, health care, human services, public safety and workforce development in Jackson and Josephine counties, as well as the vision and support of SOESD.”Ā 

Career Journey Project

By News, School Improvement Services, School-Wide Improvement

This Career Journeyā€™s project is a statewide project featuring 30 young people from all around Oregon in various career paths. Each person shares their story of how they ended up in the job they have today. So far, two of the thirty people featured are from Southern Oregon; both Justin Huntley and Jessica West. Four additional videos are being produced in Southern Oregon this summer sponsored by our STEM Hub, CTE and Ed Tech Cadre.

View the website

First & Second Year Teachers

By News, Uncategorized

Who:Ā New Teacher PLN is open to all southern Oregon regional 1st and 2nd year teachers
What:Ā Connect-Prepare-Launch, PLN Meetings
ā€œJust in Timeā€ Topics
Resilience Building
Connection
When: In-Person: August 16-18 Connect-Prepare-Launch, 8:30-3:30pm
Virtual: Monthly 1-2 Hour PLN Meetings
Where: Rogue Primary School, CPSD
600 S. 2nd St.
Central Point, OR 97502

Autism Services

August ORPATS Trainings

By News

Training Information

Registration is open for three on-site OrPATS workshops in Medford and in Klamath Falls for August 2023:

  1. Aug 14-15, 2023 STAR training in Medford (SOESD- Medford Upstairs Conference Room) ā€“ https://pdnetworks.soesd.k12.or.us/public/events/view-event/9531
  2. Aug 16, 2023 LINKS training in Medford (SOESD- Medford Upstairs Conference room) ā€“ https://pdnetworks.soesd.k12.or.us/public/events/view-event/9533
  3. Aug 17-18 STAR training in Klamath Falls (1336 Avalon St., Klamath Falls, OR 97603)- https://pdnetworks.soesd.k12.or.us/public/events/view-event/9532

8th annual Klamath Promise Graduation Sensation

By News, School Improvement Services, School-Wide Improvement

The 8th annual Klamath Promise Graduation Sensation took place in downtown Klamath Falls on Thursday, June 1.Ā  Almost 700 graduating high school seniors from all 12 high schools across all of Klamath County paraded in caps and gowns down Main Street with bands and mascots, then joined together with family, friends and supporters in Veterans Park for a celebration and awards distribution. A moment of silence was observed for those no longer with us, the Henley Touch of Class sang the National Anthem and David Stork, Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, and Chief Legal Officer at Lithia Motors, Inc., provided keynote remarks as the students embark on life after high school.

The Graduation Sensation includes awards for those going on to college, into the military, into the workforce, or who are undecided on their next step. This year 101 scholarships and gift cards totaling nearly $45,000 were announced to the crowd of graduates, families, and supporters braving the rain. More than 20 local business and organizations contributed to awards this year:

  • Cascade Health Alliance
  • Citizens for Safe Schools in partnership with Youth Development Oregon
  • Dana Orr- The Lending Lady of the Klamath Basin
  • EagleRidge High School
  • Friends of the Klamath County Library
  • Glenn & Ursula Gailis
  • Healthy Klamath Partners
  • Hispanic Health Committee
  • Holliday Jewelry
  • Kersey Trust
  • Klamath Basin Behavioral Health
  • Klamath Community College
  • Klamath County Chamber of Commerce
  • Klamath County Board of Commissioners
  • Klamath County School District
  • Klamath Health Partnership
  • Pelican Education Foundation
  • Ross Ragland Theater & Cultural Center
  • Sky Lakes Medical Center
  • Soroptimist International of Klamath Falls
  • The Stork Family
  • Windermere Real Estate
  • Anonymous Donors

Special thanks to our entire community and all who help make the largest known graduation celebration happen! Including but not limited to Aurora Simpson, City of Klamath Falls Parks, City of Klamath Falls Streets, Diamond Home Improvement, Klamath County Library, Klamath County School District, Klamath Falls City Schools, Klamath Falls Police Department, Klamath Union High School Digital Media, Southern Oregon ESD Sign Language Interpreters, Southern Oregon ESD Staff, and the 50+ Individual Volunteers!

The winners for the 2023 Graduation Sensation areā€¦

Winner FirstĀ  Winner LastĀ  Winner SchoolĀ  Award TypeĀ  AmountĀ  SponsorĀ 
Yoselin Alonzo Henley Gift Card $250 Klamath Community College
Antonella Audeh Falcon Heights Academy Scholarship $1,000 Citizens for Safe Schools
Dylan Bachman Mazama Gift Card $50 Anonymous
Shaylee Batten Henley Gift Card $250 Klamath Community College
Chloe Bautista Mazama Scholarship $2,000 Soroptimist International of Klamath Falls
Leslie Beanland Henley Scholarship $500 Healthy Klamath Partners: Cascade Health Alliance, Klamath Health Partnership, Sky Lakes Medical Center
Ryan Bicknell Mazama Gift Card $50 Klamath County Commissioners
Sophia Branum EagleRidge Scholarship $1,000 Citizens for Safe Schools
Jacob Bruner Henley Gift Card $100 Klamath County Chamber of Commerce
Jacob Bruner Henley Gift Card $50 Klamath County Commissioners
Madison Camino Falcon Heights Academy Scholarship $500 Hispanic Health Committee
Jonathan Cazarez Mendez Lost River Scholarship $1,000 Citizens for Safe Schools
Hope Chase Henley Scholarship $2,000 Soroptimist International of Klamath Falls
Layla Chavez Henley Scholarship $500 Holliday Jewelry
Staci Chipman Klamath Union Scholarship $500 Ross Ragland Theater & Cultural Center
Chayse Clements Mazama Gift Card $100 Klamath County Chamber of Commerce
Tania Cobian Henley Gift Card $50 Anonymous
Ashley Conlogue Klamath Union Scholarship $500 Glenn & Ursula Gailis
Kayla Cook Mazama Scholarship $2,000 Soroptimist International of Klamath Falls
Margot Cross CrossPoint Scholarship $500 Healthy Klamath Partners: Cascade Health Alliance, Klamath Health Partnership, Sky Lakes Medical Center
Haylee David-Stewart Bonanza Gift Card $250 Klamath Community College
Brody Derra Henley Gift Card $50 Klamath County Commissioners
Kristalina Derry Klamath Union Scholarship $500 Stork Service Scholarship – Commitment to Community Award
Alivia Dibrito Klamath Learning Center Scholarship $1,000 Citizens for Safe Schools
Indrani Espinoza Klamath Union Scholarship $500 Pelican Education Foundation
David Ferguson Mazama Gift Card $50 Anonymous
James Ferguson Mazama Scholarship $500 Klamath County School District
Allison Fournier CrossPoint Scholarship $2,000 Soroptimist International of Klamath Falls
Jude Garlitz Klamath Union Scholarship $500 Klamath County Commissioners
Kaylee Gettman Klamath Union Gift Card $50 Klamath County Commissioners
Bryan Goff-Currier Mazama Scholarship $500 Klamath County Commissioners
Charles Gonsowski Henley Scholarship $500 Friends of the Klamath County Library
Esteban Gonzalez Hernandez Klamath Union Gift Card $250 Klamath Community College
Jalen Gotoy Klamath Union Gift Card $50 Klamath County Commissioners
James Grounds Mazama Gift Card $50 Klamath County Commissioners
Owen Grove EagleRidge Scholarship $500 EagleRidge High School
Izabella Guadarrama Dahl Bonanza Scholarship $500 Windermere Real Estate
Mary Hanley Gilchrist Scholarship $500 Klamath County School District
Mak Harris EagleRidge Gift Card $500 Citizens for Safe Schools
Mak Harris EagleRidge Gift Card $50 Klamath County Commissioners
Jayden Hartz Henley Gift Card $250 Klamath Community College
Gracelyn Hedlund Henley Scholarship $1,000 Klamath County Commissioners
Jesli Hernandez Lost River Scholarship $500 Klamath County Commissioners
Marvin Hernandez Lost River Gift Card $50 Klamath County Commissioners
Zoey Hildebrand Klamath Learning Center Scholarship $1,000 Citizens for Safe Schools
Hailey Hoehn Falcon Heights Academy Scholarship $1,000 Citizens for Safe Schools
Kailynn Hunt-Plummer Klamath Union Scholarship $500 Healthy Klamath Partners: Klamath Basin Behavioral Health
Jaden Jackson Chiloquin Gift Card $50 Klamath County Commissioners
Vivian Jones Henley Scholarship $1,000 Citizens for Safe Schools
Marcus Kaeding EagleRidge Gift Card $500 Citizens for Safe Schools
James Keimel EagleRidge Gift Card $500 Citizens for Safe Schools
Keaton Kensler CrossPoint Gift Card $50 Anonymous
Levin Kiss Klamath Union Scholarship $500 Glenn & Ursula Gailis
Codey Lyman Lost River Scholarship $500 Klamath County School District
Peighton Madron Bonanza Gift Card $50 Anonymous
Joseph Mandarin Lost River Gift Card $250 Klamath Community College
Matthew Marcussen Mazama Gift Card $50 Anonymous
Ava Masl EagleRidge Gift Card $250 Klamath Community College
Tashina Matt-Collier Chiloquin Gift Card $500 Citizens for Safe Schools
Grace McCollam Lost River Scholarship $500 Klamath County Commissioners
Brooke McNeal Mazama Gift Card $50 Klamath County Commissioners
Crystal Mendez Mazama Scholarship $500 Klamath County School District
Aidan Miller Mazama Gift Card $50 Anonymous
Nick Morene CrossPoint Gift Card $25 Ross Ragland Theater & Cultural Center
Caleb Nejely Henley Gift Card $100 Dana Orr- The Lending Lady of the Klamath Basin
Ellianna Nowak Falcon Heights Academy Scholarship $500 Klamath County School District
Lindsay Pace CrossPoint Gift Card $25 Ross Ragland Theater & Cultural Center
Carson Parrish Lost River Gift Card $250 Klamath Community College
Nicole Parrish Chiloquin Scholarship $500 Klamath County School District
Logan Passmore Henley Gift Card $25 Ross Ragland Theater & Cultural Center
Evan Peterson Mazama Gift Card $100 Klamath County Chamber of Commerce
Kai Pine Mazama Scholarship $500 Klamath County Commissioners
Aleeka Qualls Klamath Learning Center Gift Card $50 Anonymous
Makayla Quirk Mazama Scholarship $2,000 Soroptimist International of Klamath Falls
Luke Rodenhauser CrossPoint Scholarship $500 Windermere Real Estate
Jeshua Ruelas Salazar Henley Scholarship $500 Klamath County School District
LeOna Santos EagleRidge Scholarship $500 Klamath County Commissioners
Jennifer Serrato Klamath Union Gift Card $100 Klamath County Chamber of Commerce
Jennifer Serrato Klamath Union Gift Card $50 Klamath County Commissioners
Aria Sha Henley Gift Card $250 Klamath Community College
Anastasia Shanks Chiloquin Scholarship $1,000 Citizens for Safe Schools
Natalie Skouras Bonanza Scholarship $500 Klamath County School District
Lillian Smith Henley Gift Card $50 Anonymous
Clayton Spivey Mazama Scholarship $500 Holliday Jewelry
Raffaele Squera Henley Scholarship $500 Anonymous
Shaw Stork Henley Scholarship $500 Klamath County School District
Stormy Tecumseh Mazama Scholarship $1,000 Klamath County Commissioners
Angelina Tietjen-Rodriguez Henley Gift Card $50 Klamath County Commissioners
Analisa Trushell Bonanza Scholarship $1,000 Citizens for Safe Schools
Kale Tschetter Henley Gift Card $50 Klamath County Commissioners
Grace Tucker New Horizon School Scholarship $500 Healthy Klamath Partners: Cascade Health Alliance, Klamath Health Partnership, Sky Lakes Medical Center
Shilo Tucker Gilchrist Gift Card $100 Klamath County Chamber of Commerce
Shilo Tucker Gilchrist Gift Card $50 Klamath County Commissioners
Slade Villanueva Henley Gift Card $25 Ross Ragland Theater & Cultural Center
Skyler Vinson Henley Gift Card $100 Dana Orr- The Lending Lady of the Klamath Basin
Sahalie Vivanco Klamath Union Gift Card $250 Klamath Community College
Chance Walton CrossPoint Scholarship $500 Ross Ragland Theater & Cultural Center
Matthew Ward Falcon Heights Academy Scholarship $200 Anonymous
Chadwick Wardrip Mazama Gift Card $50 Anonymous
Cheyenne West Henley Gift Card $50 Klamath County Commissioners
Malcolm Whitaker Klamath Learning Center Scholarship $500 Kersey Trust

 

The Klamath Promise is a community-wide initiative connecting the community and schools, from preschool through career and college readiness. Since 2012 the Klamath Promise has aimed to increase ā€œSuccess through Educationā€ for all students in Klamath County, whether success looks like joining the workforce or military, or going to college.

The Klamath Promise: Connecting and inspiring the community about the importance of education, attendance, and graduation, from early childhood to career or college transitions. Visit klamathpromise.org to learn more!

Contact klamath_promise@soesd.k12.or.us with questions.

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.) ā€“ 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 Oregonā€™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.

ā€œThe amazing work Zandra does for students and staff on a daily basis is truly inspiring,ā€ said Governor Tina Kotek. ā€œHer 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.ā€

ā€œZandra 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,ā€ 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!”

ā€œZandra prioritizes connections with students in all aspects of her work, from finding the resources they need to providing emotional support and understanding,ā€ said Colt Gill, Director of Oregon Department of Education. ā€œOur 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.ā€

Thanks to ODEā€™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 Zandraā€™s achievements and her impact in the Three Rivers community.

ā€œWeā€™re proud to support Zandraā€™s work in the Three Rivers School District and her impressive commitment to serving students with care and understanding,ā€ said Oregon Lottery Interim Director Mike Wells. ā€œAs 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.ā€

Program History

Oregonā€™s Education Support Professional of the Year Program results fromĀ 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!

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