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April Newsletter
from Multnomah Education Service District
Welcome back! As the vibrant blooms of spring greet us once again, we return from a rejuvenating Spring Break ready to dive into the exciting events and opportunities awaiting us this month.
Get ready for an April filled with inspiration, collaboration, and endless possibilities.
Don't Miss...
AI Empowered Edu Conference
Multnomah Education Service District, in collaboration with Northwest Regional ESD, Clackamas ESD, and the University of Portland, is proud to present the inaugural AI Empowered Edu Conference.
This conference will explore how AI is reshaping traditional learning paradigms, fostering innovation, and propelling us toward an exciting future where technology seamlessly integrates with education to empower learners and educators alike. Join us as we embark on a journey to the forefront of educational innovation and envision the possibilities that lie ahead.
You will leave this conference with:
Practical Guidance
Gain actionable strategies to implement AI in your district right away, leading to real improvements.Valuable Connections
Engage with fellow leaders, creating opportunities for collaboration and the exchange of knowledge.Creative Solutions
Think outside the box and drive innovation within your educational community, fostering positive change.
Tuesday, May 14th, 2024 from 8am to 3:30pm
At the University of Portland, Dundon-Berchtold Hall
New Podcast Episode: Deep Dive on Equity
For this month’s episode, MESD Superintendent Dr. Paul Coakley interviewed Beaverton Superintendent Dr. Gustavo Balderas. Together, they talked about the challenges and opportunities they have both navigated as leaders of color.
Listen and subscribe to “Leaders Build Leaders with Dr. Coakley” on the following platforms:
Program & Department Highlights
MESD Bridges goes to Blazers Edge Night 2024
Last month, MESD Bridges Programs sent 80 youth and their families to the March 13th Blazers game against the Atlanta Hawks. The Portland Trail Blazer’s Edge Night is an annual charity event where hundreds of under-served youth from the Portland area are invited to see the Trail Blazers play at the Moda Center. Edge Night is supported by donated tickets from fans and community members. We are super appreciative of the opportunity to send our youth and families to the game this year.
The Bridges program has participated in Edge Night since 2017! Youth were invited from all our Bridges programs, including Bars to Bridges, East County Bridges, Hospital School Program, Wynne Watts/LTCT, Donald E Long (DEL) Bridges, and Yamhill/Baker Bridges. Many youth who've experienced education disruption through hospitalization, long-term care, or juvenile detention were given the opportunity to attend with our Transition Specialists. Thank you to the Blazers Edge Night folks for coordinating everything and for giving us the chance to see the Blazers win!
Hidden History Gallery Walk - Burlingame & Arata Creek Student Art
On March 21st, Burlingame hosted the highly-anticipated fifth edition of the “Hidden History Gallery Walk - Burlingame and Arata Creek Student Art” event. Attendees immersed themselves in the rich tapestry of student artwork and explored the hidden stories woven into each piece.
At the heart of this tradition are its founders, Johnny Ballard, now a revered teacher at Parkrose School District, and Katherine Baggett, a dedicated educator at MESD. Their vision and passion have transformed this event into a cherished community gathering that celebrates the creativity and talent of our student artists.
Reflecting on the event, Johnny shared his excitement about the continued growth and impact of the Gallery Walk, highlighting the importance of showcasing students' artistic expressions and preserving Black history all year-round. Katherine echoed Johnny's sentiments, emphasizing the event's role in fostering connection and pride within the Burlingame community.
A special acknowledgment goes to Assistant Principal Brandon Goodrich for curating the perfect vinyl soundtrack to accompany the evening's festivities. His impeccable music selection, ranging from Curtis Mayfield and Miles Davis to The Supremes, highlighted the contributions of Black artists and added an extra layer of energy and ambiance to an already unforgettable event.
HR Update with Sam Breyer
Last month, we shared the MESD Human Resources priorities:
Improve Responsiveness
Strong Labor Relationships
Effective Recruiting, Hiring, and Retention Practices
Ensuring Long Term Stability in Human Resources
This month, we’re thrilled to introduce our newest HR team member. She is a key component in improving HR responsiveness. When you write to HRGeneral@mesd.k12.or.us, she is most often the one reviewing, responding, or routing to ensure you get a response in a timely manner.
Introducing Raysa Cassanelli
Raysa Cassanelli, pronounced Hi-zah, has six years of clerical, administrative, and assistive experience in youth-related non-profit organizations. She was born in Brazil and grew up in Florida within an incredibly diverse community. Growing up within her own culture, she learned the value of community, courtesy, resilience, hard work, and hospitality. She is fluent in Portuguese and English, but grew up learning Spanish along the way. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Psychology and a Master of Arts in Theology.
Raysa became fascinated with Psycholinguistics, Organization, and Business early on in life. Her vocation is to inspire others to seek and accept genuine self-awareness and structuring this knowledge into a fulfilling path within their strengths and weaknesses alike. This led her to MESD as she was inspired by its vision of a higher quality education for all students and community for our youth. She is eager to contribute to this vision. Raysa is looking forward to seeing where her growth and experience will lead her as she strives to align her vocation to it.
MESD Strong!
And the winner is: MESD Viewbook!
We are thrilled to share that MESD’s Communications Team received the 2023-2024 Oregon’s Best Special Publication Award during the most recent Oregon School Public Relation Association (OSPRA) Conference for the publication of MESD’s viewbook. This recognition is a testament to our commitment to equity, excellence, and creativity in communications. See the Viewbook here!
Congratulations to the MESD Financial Team!
Our district received an ASBO International’s Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting (COE) for your FY2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. MESD’s participation in the COE program is a testament to our district’s commitment to transparency and high-quality financial reporting.
National Certification Exam
Congratulations to school nurses Cheryl Bell and Jennifer Novack for passing the National Board for Certification of School Nurses exam. Cheryl and Jennifer’s dedication to obtaining this national standard of preparation underscores their passion for ensuring the well-being and safety of all students under their care. We are proud to have such highly qualified and skilled professionals supporting the school communities in the Southwest Portland Schools!
Dedicated School Nurse, Jennifer Novack not only recently conducted 15 engaging interactive hand-washing classes for grade school students but also took on the role of precepting a nursing student. By juggling both responsibilities, Jennifer exemplified their dedication to both educating future healthcare professionals and promoting health among students. Jennifer’s commitment to teaching proper hand hygiene to children and mentoring aspiring nurses showcases her passion for both education and healthcare!
Join us in celebrating our very own Dr. Angela Hubbs!
Angela successfully defended her dissertation, entitled “A Quantitative Examination of Education Service District Communities of Practice.” Dr. Hubbs earned her doctoral degree from the University of Portland. Congratulations Dr. Hubbs on this great accomplishment!
President-Elect of ORABSE: Yusuf Leary
Please also join us in congratulating our very own Yusuf Leary, Lead Equity Facilitator at MESD. Yusuf has been named President-Elect of ORABSE! We can’t wait to see all the things he accomplishes in his new role.
Special Opportunity for MESD Staff: UO Ballmer Institute Graduate Microcredential Program
The University of Oregon's Ballmer Institute is making this opportunity available to MESD staff. They expect to award over 100 scholarships this year!
The University of Oregon's Ballmer Institute offers a three-course, year-long graduate microcredential in child behavioral health. The program provides educators and other youth serving professionals with evidence-based behavioral health practices designed to promote child behavioral health and support well-being. The courses span important topics such as developing and maintaining healthy relationships, self-regulation, and trauma-informed supports.
Educators and youth-serving professionals participating in the program are eligible to receive a scholarship for the full cost of tuition and fees. Questions? Send them to ballmerinstitute@uoregon.edu.
Note: Because these are graduate-level courses, participants need to have already completed a Bachelor's degree in order to be eligible to enroll.
Prospective students must apply by the May 1, 2024 deadline.
April Events and More
Gresham MAX Improvements Project - Blue Line Disruption
Sunday, April 7, through Saturday, April 13 - MAX Blue Line will be closed between E 172nd Avenue and Civic Drive stations
Learn more about MAX Blue Line Disruption
Science of Reading and Structured Literacy 201
April 11-April 25 from 5-7pm (Virtual Paraeducator Workshop via Zoom)
Register for Science of Reading & Structured Literacy 201
SEL Spring Series - SEL In Your Own Words
April 17-May 1 from 5-6:30pm (Virtual Paraeducator Workshop via Zoom)
Register for SEL In Your Own Words
ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning and K-12 School Safety Workshop
April 24, 2024 from 11:00am-12:30pm (Virtual Workshop via Zoom)
Register for ShakeAlert School Safety Workshop
AI - Empowered EDU Conference
Tuesday, May 14th from 8am-3:30pm at University of Portland
Register for AI - Empowered EDU Conference
Visit the PDNetworks site and the HealthEd Training site to see all available professional learning opportunities this month!
April is also...
April is Arab Heritage Month
April 1-5 - National Assistant Principal Appreciation Week
April 2 - World Autism Awareness Day
April 3 - National Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
April 19-23 - National Environmental Education Week
April 20 - Chinese Language Day
April 22-26 - Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week
April 22 - Earth Day
April 23 - Spanish Language Day
April 24 - Administrative Professional Day
Share Your News with MESD
Thank you to the MESD staff who shared their stories with us this edition!
We want to continue sharing your stories and happenings across our district. To submit photo(s) or content for consideration, please email commsteam@mesd.k12.or.us by the 20th to be included in next month's newsletter.
MESD is Hiring!
Know anyone who would be a good fit for an MESD career? Share our current opportunities!