What has distance learning been like for you? Your educators want to know! Your Voice Matters! Understanding your experiences will help us better support ALL students as we plan for next year together.OPEN TO STUDENTS IN GRADES 6-12.
Zoom with us here https://soesd.zoom.us/j/6471053180
OR Use: https://bit.ly/sosvevent
OR Dial In: +1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 647 105 3180
As we navigate through these uncharted times, the power and necessity of community and relationships are becoming increasingly apparent. Although we are practicing social distancing, we still can find creative and innovative ways to foster connection, care for one another, and normalize our experiences. We also can gather together to inspire, learn from and with each other about how to continue trekking bravely forward into this courageous space we now occupy: Distance Learning for All. How can we continuously improve experiences for our educators, students and families during this time while also planning for the future?
Raphi Miller and Cara Walsh of Resolve will be facilitating 14 virtual care and connection circles for educators with the goal of providing a safe and supportive space to share and listen to others in the field of Education as we all navigate the highs and the lows of this time. Space will be provided to lean into listening to each other in order to learn from each other. This is not a training. Participants can join any or all sessions. Please register and obtain Zoom link(s) through PD Networks.
Who should attend? Anyone and everyone in the field of Education who is interested in connecting with other educators to foster community and hear from one another during these unprecedented times filled with changes and unknowns.
Event Dates:
Wednesday, May 20, from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm via Zoom
Thursday, May 21, from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm via Zoom
Thursday, May 28, from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm via Zoom
Thursday, June 4, from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm via Zoom
Thursday, June 11, from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm via Zoom
Tuesday, May 26, from 1 pm to 2 pm via Zoom
Tuesday, June 2, from 1 pm to 2 pm via Zoom
Tuesday, June 9, from 1 pm to 2 pm via Zoom
Wednesday, May 27, from 1 pm to 2 pm via Zoom
Wednesday, June 3, from 1 pm to 2 pm via Zoom
Wednesday, June 10, from 1 pm to 2 pm via Zoom
Thursday, May 28, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm via Zoom
Thursday, June 4, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm via Zoom
Thursday, June 11, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm via Zoom
On behalf of the Oregon Department of Education, Southern Oregon Education Service District (SOESD) is proud to announce the selection of Mr. Jordan Werner, Physical Education Teacher at Riverside Elementary School in Grants Pass, as a 2021 Oregon Regional Teacher of the Year. Werner is also the Grants Pass High School Assistant Track and Field Coach and the head football coach at South Middle School. Mr. Werner will be honored virtually in the coming month and will be awarded a check for $500.00.
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 seven applications from a larger set of nominations, found that Werner exemplified the following attributes:
The Oregon Teacher of the Year Program started in 1955, and is managed by the Oregon Department of Education. Anyone can nominate a candidate for the recognition, but teachers may not nominate themselves. Once selected, the Oregon Teacher of the Year is also a candidate to apply for the National Teacher of the Year recognition. 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. The goal of the expansion is to honor teachers in every region of the state. 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. Thirteen winners will go on to be considered for Oregon Teacher of the Year, which will be decided in September.
SOESD is proud of the amazing teachers in our three-county region, exemplified by Mr. Werner, who are focused on quality teaching, learning, and student achievement.
During the last week of March local hospital medical professionals and administrators reached out to a group of teachers, community organizations, designers, engineers, manufacturers, and doctors to come together to brainstorm the possibility of designing and producing Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) for local hospitals. They hoped for a local solution, as they waited on delivery of medical supplies to be shipped into the region.
SOESD, Talent Maker City Programs Director Allison French and CTE Regional Coordinator Brian Robin were tasked to help with this work. The two called upon regional CTE high school students who have been trained in Computer Aided Design (CAD) experience to help. The students are currently working with high school CTE teachers in conjunction with on a “Student Skunks Works group” that interacts with a larger group in the community.
The team is organized using the Slack messaging platform where separate channels focus conversations for each product in need of support. The initial needs were face shields, n95 masks, iso masks, iso gowns, and ventilator manifolds. The group chose team leads to begin each effort, and within 24 hours, 3D printers around the valley were ramping up production of prototypes. Parts were delivered to doctors the same day, and immediate approvals have allowed face shields to begin production.
The group sourced a local manufacturer, Proto Mold Manufacturing based in Central Point to start producing face shields for frontline medical personnel that are taking samples from suspected COVID19 patients, and those that have already been admitted for care.
The Skunk Works group, including Alison French, RCC staff, and high school staff from both North Medford High School and Grants Pass High School, are working on other designs as well. They are prototyping ventilator/respirator manifolds that would allow a single respirator to support multiple patients at a time.
Other local manufacturers, such as Erickson Aircrane and Care Stream, are also working with members of the Skunk Works Team to provide resources and connections to produce, and source hand sanitizer, N95 masks, gloves, and medical gowns locally.
OIT and Sky Lakes Medical – in Klamath County- are also collaborating with the group in Jackson and Josephine Counties, to help to provide help to hospitals in Klamath County.
“The full force of Southern Oregon Geeks, Nerds, and Doctors aren’t cowering in our homes waiting for this to blow over. We’re fighting back,” says French.
For students who have a 3D printer and are wanting to participate, visit www.talentmakercity.org/covid
“The most recent vetted and approved files are posted there along with drop off locations of completed the shields. They can sign up to participate. We’d love their help!” says French.
Read recent Herald and News and Mail Tribune articles featuring the work that the SOESD group has been a part of.
Eagle Point Middle School became the the first school in Jackson County to check out the SOESD Mobile Maker Space. The second Space will be set-up at Hidden Valley High School and a third is about to appear at Henley Middle and High School later in March.
“Eagle Point Middle School Students are getting some hands on experience with robotics thanks to the Mobile Maker Space on loan from the Southern Oregon ESD. Students will put their newly learned coding skills to the test with Spheros and Lego Mindstorm kits that come with the MMS. It’s one thing to talk about engineering and robotics, but it’s the experience of actually doing it where real connections are made.” – Jason Clark
Please join us for the Oregon Math Standards Revision Review that will be hosted by Mark Freed from the Oregon Department of Education. Mark will be sharing the work he has been doing in preparation for revising the math standards in the State of Oregon. The goal of this review is to interact with, and gather math teacher’s feedback regarding this work before its goals are finalized.
This opportunity is available to math, and CTE teachers. There will be two opportunities for you to connect, and interact with Mark regarding the upcoming changes to Oregon’s math standards. The first revision review will be on Thursday, April 16th at Klamath Union High School from 3:30-5:00 pm.
The second review will be held on Friday, April 17th at Rogue River High School from 3:30-5:00 pm. The Oregon Department of Education and the Southern Or ESD would love to have your insight, and feedback on Oregon’s upcoming math standards. Please join us, and see the links below to register!
Oregon Math Standards Revision Review April 16th 2020 Klamath Union High School- http://pdnetworks.soesd.k12.or.us/public/events/view-event/7485
Oregon Math Standards Revision Review April 17th 2020 Rogue River High School – http://pdnetworks.soesd.k12.or.us/public/events/view-event/7486
Brian Robin, the Regional CTE Coordinator at SOESD, works closely with our component districts and RCC to create pathways for students to pursue these opportunities.
Competing with robots and code: Klamath Icebreaker Robotics Tournament attracts 22 teams. SOESD helps supports this event. Click here for a recent news article.
Chief Science Officers (CSO’s) from Talent Middle School presented at the Promising Practices Symposium along with Hidden Valley High School CSO’s about their role, their individual and group leadership projects and the impact their projects will have on their schools and their communities. CSO’s role is to help inspire students in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) and to demonstrate leadership in these areas through a project that benefits those around them.
A Positive Discipline Workshop we held on Feb. 3th and 4th at OIT for educators serving in Klamath County. SOESD’s comprehensive, research-based professional development program empowers educators to connect with youth and address the root causes of misbehavior.
In this workshop educators learned how to:
