OSP Connected
September 2021-Office for School Performance-Volume 51
Message from Dayle
When I was about twenty a friend tried to teach me to golf. I learned where to put my feet, bend my knees, attend to my shoulders, adjust my grip, pull up on the club, shift my weight, keep my eyes on the ball, and as I held that position I remember my friend saying, "Now swing!" I stood there frozen. My attention was on so many discrete details that I couldn't swing the club! Seeing my distress, my friend broke into laughter saying, "Maybe we should have started with just playing golf!"
I am thinking of you and also this story as you head back into your classrooms and welcome student back into learning. Student learning is the goal. It's the purpose of school. And you, as the expert, are specifially gifted and skilled to make that happen. It's why you chose the careers you have chosen!
As you head back this year you will hear about the many things you need to do and attend to including technology use, social emotional learning, language frames, interactive notebooks, Wonders/Maravillas curriculum, grading practices, culturally responsive teaching practices, differentiation and the list goes on! But as you learn about these important parts of teaching don't forget to start with just being in school with students and teaching. Focus on these two things:
- Make relationships with your students. Listen. See them. Let them learn about you. Believe in them. Let them hear, see and feel your belief. Be a merchant of hope.
- Teach engaging, interesting lessons. Use the tools and strategies you know work. Play with new ones. Find ways to help students see themselves in their learning and succeed in learning daily.
I am not much of a golfer but I am a geeky researcher and as such I know that a high quality teacher can overcome a plethora of challenges a student may have experienced. There is a lot to think about as we return to the classroom but you know how to foster student learning. Don't get frozen by discrete details. Start teaching; teachers make the difference. YOU make the difference for our Hillsboro students!
INSTRUCTION: ¡Juntos Podemos! College and Career Readiness in Hillsboro, Oregon
Reflections from Amy Loyd, Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education
¿Cuál es tu futuro? In Hillsboro School District (HSD), students from pre-K through grade 12 consider their possible futures by engaging in integrated career and college pathways that are connected to social-emotional learning across six different career learning areas, with resources, supports, and instruction in English and Spanish. Grounded in the HSD’s belief that it’s never too soon to become aware, eligible, and prepared for life after high school, I saw firsthand how even their youngest learners are developing college-going mindsets and engaging in career exploration, en Inglés y Español!
On July 13, Secretary Cardona and I joined U.S. Congresswoman Bonamici on a site visit to the HSD Bilingual Summer Program held at Witch Hazel Elementary School. HSD is the fourth-largest district in Oregon; students of color make up the majority of HSD’s enrollment, and they speak over 100 different languages in their homes. In addition to federal funding from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title IC Migrant Education and ESEA Title III English Language Learner funding, the State of Oregon provided a grant to HSD’s summer program through its federal American Rescue Plan Act funding. As a result, the Bilingual Summer Program’s enrollment doubled in size this year. HSD also added student tutors and mentors, contracted with partner organizations for enrichment activities, and expanded the length of the school day and after school care programs.
I was delighted to see first graders simultaneously learning career-connected vocabulary in English and Spanish through an art project, engaging in inquiry-based learning, and considering their possible futures for careers. And high school students interested in education career pathways were providing these young learners with individualized supports and tutoring through HSD-sponsored paid internship opportunities.
Over the past five years, HSD has doubled its CTE program offerings for secondary students, and now offers innovative opportunities aligned to high-growth, high-demand careers that pay a family-sustaining wage—such as their new Oregon Aerospace Careers for Everyone (O-ACE) career and college pathway. Through O-ACE, HSD partners with Portland Community College to offer dual credit courses in Aviation Science and Aviation Maintenance Technology, and the O-ACE classroom is co-located on the Hillsboro Airport—so as students are learning about careers as aviation maintenance technicians, avionics technicians, or professional pilots, they can look out the window and see these careers in action. Secretary Cardona and I greatly enjoyed visiting this district and seeing firsthand how HSD actively collaborates with multiple higher education partners, business and industry, and the community to provide all of its students with meaningful career-connected learning that prepares them for rewarding futures.
Teacher Resources: Teaching & Learning 2.0
Climate & Culture: A Culture & System of Care
As we await the return of our students into our buildings, all day and every day, we are all filled with an array of emotions, and that is to be expected. We have all experienced so much. Whether it was bad or good, it happened. As we begin to uncover the complexity of our student’s experiences, we urge you to take care of yourself. Think of everything you have learned this year with self-care; a breathing technique, the beauty of silence, meditation and/or centering yourself. The better we take care of ourselves, the better educators we can be for our students.
ODE has purposely called out the first few weeks of school as Care and Connection - ODE week. They’re encouraging schools and school districts to designate the first whole week of school Care and Connection Week to kick the year off right and to continue that momentum into the weeks and months to come.. This time is an opportunity for school leaders, staff, students, and families to foster care, connection, and community and create a healthy foundation for the school year.
On Sept 7 and 8, we have the gift of Welcome Back Connection time with our students and families. Your principal will be presenting the details upon your return. Please use this time to focus on the few provided questions so that you can take that information and use it to build upon relationships. Think of the acronym RisE - Relationship is Everything! Caring for our students isn’t something we just do; it is something we believe and act upon. It will be essential in moving this school year forward.
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES:
Resources from the Committee for Children
RESOURCE FOR EDUCATORS:
Using SEL - Return to School Resource
Comprehensive Health and Wellness HSD Site
(Above is a link for CSE, SEL, Mental Health Resources, and more)!
To kick the year off right, we’re encouraging schools and school districts to designate the first full week of school Care and Connection Week. The week is an opportunity for school leaders, staff, students and families to foster care, connection and community, and to create a healthy foundation for the school year.
Leading Change in HSD
Welcome to a new school year! We are excited to be a part of the team in service and support of our students. As many of you know, the Hillsboro School District is committed to the success of every student in our schools. For that success to occur, we are committed to equity by recognizing and eliminating institutional barriers and creating access and opportunities that benefit each student. In HSD, we believe it is more than doing and more about the belief we bring forward into every interaction with our students. Each touch point has potential for positive impact and change.
Educational equity is based on the principle that each student receives what is required for them to achieve success. The principle of educational equity goes beyond formal equality where all students are treated the same. Instead, educational equity fosters a barrier-free environment in which all students have the opportunity to benefit equally. Educational equity promotes equality of educational outcomes for each student and between diverse groups of students. Equity strategies are intentional, systemic and focused on the core of the teaching and learning process.
Educational Equity is not something you can do in isolation. It is an active journey that involves everyone. Equity is within all, through all and for all. With great excitement, we are happy to introduce the new Equity, Access and Engagement team with you. Please see the 1-pager document listed below. We know that YOU are a key component to this journey and are vital to its success. We consider YOU the first and number one member of our team.
Introducing the EAE team - Here is a 1-pager document that links to the team. We have also created a video we are sharing with HS student workers that goes a little more in depth. Our HSD Family Engagement team can be found here and are also key members of the conduit as we serve our community, families, staff and students.
HSD Equity Policy: JBB.pdf
EAE Website (External-Public)
EAE Website (Internal-Staff)
#ThisIsEquityHSD
#EquityEverywhere
Coffee Conversations
We are excited to introduce you to our very first Inclusion TOSA - Odelsa Taylor! Odelsa comes to the role from Reedville, where she was a 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teacher. Her passion for the work of inclusive practices and belief that every student is a valuable piece of the classroom community will get you excited to meet your students this year! Learn more about her background and role by watching Odelsa’s coffee conversation with Wendy Ramos.
If you have questions about students experiencing disability or best practices for inclusive education, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Student Services Department.
CAREER & COLLEGE READY: We Are Hiring!!!
We are so excited for the 2021-22 school year and as a reminder please access our PK-12 career and college pathways site (specific call out to our elementary and secondary Spanish/English one pagers).
Students interested in internship experiences or business partners interested in hosting an experience?...please connect them with our internship site!
Tech Teach Grow Team
OUR PURPOSE
This digital magazine is intended to support educators with technology integration in the classroom. Our hope is to provide HSD staff with tech integration ideas, info and updates via quick digital media easily accessible at your convenience. Everything we share works with current HSD tech.
WANT A DIFFERENT RESULT? TRY SOMETHING NEW!
LEARN WHAT"S NEXT...
Follow this link to a new (3.1) #TechForward>> Our digital mag for tech integration ideas, info & updates relevant to HSD tech. Issue 3.1 focuses on available premium digital resources, accessing new Google certified tech integration TOSAs and the HSD Google Classroom agreements for 2021-22.
Oregon Department of Education, Google Offer Training and Support Program for Oregon Teachers
NEWS RELEASE
August 17, 2021
(Salem, Ore.) – Today, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) announced a new collaboration with Google to provide free professional training and certifications to Oregon public school teachers who successfully apply for the program. The partnership will offer courses for Google for Education Level 1 Certification, which equips teachers with skills and tools to manage coursework, inspire learning and boost collaboration to improve student outcomes further using Google’s digital tools.
“We’re excited to welcome back all Oregon students this fall, and digital learning is now an even larger part of our education system,” said ODE Digital Innovations Lead Carla Wade. “At no cost to teachers, this training can increase their effectiveness at using online tools in the classroom, improving learning outcomes and saving time.”
The Google for Education training program is intended for teachers across Oregon, especially those in smaller districts with fewer professional development and training opportunities. Google for Education Level 1 Certification seeks to help teachers utilize the latest classroom management platforms and show how those tools can be used to create even more meaningful learning experiences for students.
“I use all the different collaboration and communication components of Google Workspace for Education in my daily work with colleagues,” said Portland Public Schools Technology Integration Specialist Melissa Lim, who has attained Google for Education Level 1 Certification. “The training offers a great opportunity for professional development, and helps teachers integrate the technology in our classrooms.”
Level 1 Certification areas of study include:
- Latest features of Google Classroom and all applicable tools from Google Workspace
- Workflow efficiency and the creation of paperless classrooms
- Growing data and feedback collection from students and colleagues
- Connecting and collaborating with educators around the globe
- Building students’ digital literacy
“Teachers in Oregon and around the country have excelled in the face of incredible challenges this last year,” said Regional Head of Data Center Public Affairs in Oregon Kate Franko. “We hope this training opportunity provides teachers with new tools that can make their work easier and even more impactful.”
Publicly employed K-12 teachers interested in participating can apply by September 15, 2021. Teachers will be asked to complete a brief assessment and ODE will select final candidates to participate in the program, which teachers can complete based on their own schedules.