Recognitions and Accomplishments of staff doing great things in the Beaverton School District

StaffDistrict Goal:

All students will show continuous progress toward their personal learning goals, developed in collaboration with teachers and parents, and will be prepared for post-secondary education and career success.

WE want every student to graduate with many options and be prepared to:

THINK:Creatively & CriticallyKNOW:Master ContentACT:Self Direct & CollaborateGO:Navigate Locally & Globally.

June 2015

ISB ranked #1 high school in Oregon and #35 nationally by U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News and World Report ranked the International School of Beaverton (ISB) as the #1 high school in Oregon and #35 in the nation. This is the second time ISB has ranked #1.

“Our community of students, teachers, support staff, and parents all contribute to our positive, academically-minded school culture that leads to college and career readiness for all our students,” says Principal Jill O’Neill.

Congratulations to all of the staff, students and families at ISB!

Kevin Sutherland awarded 2015 NASRO Regional Exceptional Service Award

Kevin Sutherland, Director of Public Safety and Security, is the recipient of the 2015 National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) Regional Exceptional Service Award.

The Exceptional Service Awards are presented to those individuals for continuous and sustained service to the school community above and beyond that expected of a normal School Resource Officer (SRO) or school staff member. The National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) is dedicated to providing the highest quality training to school-based law enforcement officers in order to promote safer schools and safer kids.

As stated in the nomination, “Educating students requires an all hands on deck approach. Kevin exemplifies these practices in his role as Director of Public Safety. Whether escorting me on a home visit, facilitating a difficult parent situation, providing a behavioral re-teaching opportunity to a student, or simply waiting out a meeting in my office as a quiet back-up support, Kevin is there. Kevin works to support others on both a foundational and first responder level.” says Hiteon Elementary School Principal, Meghan Warren.

Kevin will be recognized at the 25th Annual NASRO School Safety Conference in Florida in July. Congratulations, Kevin and thank you for all you do to ensure safe schools.

Stoller MS Science Bowl team competes nationallyCongratulations, to the Stoller Middle School Science Bowl Team. They competed at the National Science Bowl last month in Washington, D.C. and placed six-teenth in the nation!

By placing in the top 16, the team won $1,000 for their school. Team members had the opportunity to meet with Senator Ron Wyden in his office on Capitol Hill. Team members are Kevin Shen, Grant Chen, Benji Chiu, Kevin Shen, Randy Zhang and Aileen Guo.

Superintendent Rose awards three $1,000 scholarshipsThree deserving seniors were awarded the $1,000 Superintendent Rose Scholarship:

Stephanie plans to attend the Pacific Northwest College of Art and study Design, Sehoya plans to attend Grand Canyon University to study dental hygiene and Chelsea plans to attend Pacific University to study optometry and public health.

Congratulations, and good luck in all of your future endeavors!

Stephanie FloresACMA

Sehoya MacielBeaverton High School

Chelsea NyehartSouthridge High School

Meadow Park MS Destination Imagination winnersThree Meadow Park Middle School students placed 1st at Regionals and 2nd at State for Destination Imagination and were invited to the Global Destination Imagination competition in Tennessee.

The team is called Beauty & Brains and focused on increasing girls’ interests in the field of science. To do this, Alayna, Sanya and Anvitha set up a website, held a community event and prepared a presentation to represent what they did during the tournaments. The event had guest speakers from different types of science fields and the attendees got to make things and do experiments and received a certificate.

Destination Imagination (DI) is a non-profit, volunteer-led, cause-driven organization. Their purpose is to inspire and equip students to become the next generation of innovators and leaders.

Raleigh Hills K-8 ranked in Top 50 best schools Raleigh Hills K-8 was ranked #27 among the 50 best schools for grades 7 and 8 in the nation by TheBestSchools.org.

For this study, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results in science, math, and reading for eighth-graders were used as a principal basis for comparison of schools. State assessment scores were also examined, where available, and weighed together with the NAEP scores. Awards and rankings and geographical diversity were also taken into account, according to TheBestSchools.org. Congratulations, Raleigh Hills K-8 students and staff!

BSD students sweep Human Rights Creative Expression Contest

The City of Beaverton’s Human Rights Advisory Commission (HRAC) honored the winners of the 2015 Creative Expression contest at the May 12 Beaverton City Council meeting. Beaverton-area students, grades K-12, were invited to express their ideas about the importance of human and civil rights through poems, stories, essays, two- or three-dimensional artwork, songs, dance or other media. HRAC members judged the entries on their ability to show a comprehensive understanding of human rights in a creative style.

2015 Human Rights Creative Expression Contest Winners: Elementary School:Winner: Annabelle McCaffery, “What a Wonderful World” (poster), Arco Iris Spanish Immersion SchoolRunner-up: Nina Takahashi, “In the Rain” (drawing), Hiteon Elementary SchoolRunner-up: Mrs. Krueger’s 5th Grade Class, “Human Rights for All!” (mixed media) Scholls Heights Elementary School

Middle School:Winner: Mackenzie Hohbach, “Human Rights” (mixed media), Cedar Park Middle SchoolRunner up: Elizabeth Nangle, “Our Rights Define Us” (mixed media), International School of BeavertonRunner up: Julia Takahashi, “The Same in Any Language” (drawing), Conestoga Middle School

High School:Winner: Fatimah Alsammarraie, “Speak About the Nation of Iraq” (essay with artwork), Beaverton High SchoolRunner up: Grace Potter, “Equality” (poster), Beaverton High SchoolRunner up: Mohammed Ahmead, “Iraq Story” (essay with artwork), Beaverton High School

Congratulations to all of the winners!

Meadow Park and Whitford middle schools score big in Rose Festival Junior ParadeThe Meadow Park Middle School Marching Band won 1st Place in the Band Sweepstakes category at the 2015 Rose Festival Junior Parade on June 3, 2015.

The Whitford Middle School Coachettes won 1st Place in the Dance/Drill Ju-nior category for the second year in a row.

Congratulations, Meadow Park Marching Band and Whitford Coachettes!

Five Beaverton School District seniors were each awarded $1,500 scholarships from the Association of Beaverton School Administrators (ABSA) this month.

Ramiro Cabrera from Beaverton High School, Courtney Travis from Southridge High School, Uma Ilavarasan from Westview High School, Sonal Lal and Micaela Tomas from the International School of Beaverton (ISB) were recognized at the all District leadership meeting last month.

Congratulations, to all of you and good luck in your future endeavors.

Five students awarded ABSA scholarships

OSEA awards student and staff scholarships

The Oregon School Employee Association (OSEA) awarded their annual student and staff scholarships last month. Scholarships are awarded to students of OSEA members as well as two current OSEA members The scholarship committee members Nancy Klepper, Dianna Hess, LisaKaren Donnelly and Jeanne Slater selected the winners based on their merits, scholastic goals, volunteerism, financial need and knowledge of “What a Union is.”

The $1,000 student scholarship winners are:• Teiana Nakano - Tiena’s mother is Laurel Nakano, Instructional Assistant at Bonny Slope Elementary School• Hunter Westcott - Hunter’s mother is Kasey Westcott, Secretary at Special Education.• Connell Morantte - Connell’s mother is Christina Morantte, Accounting Assistant at the ESL Welcome Center.

The $500 student scholarship winners are:• Kevin Bishop - Kevin’s mother is Laura Bishop, Secretary at Bonny Slope Elementary School.• Nikki Rieken - Nikki’s mother is Teri Rieken, Secretary at Mountain View Middle School.

The $500 OSEA member winners are:• Kasey Westcott - Office Assistant at the Special Education Office• Mike Ali - Project Specialist in Risk Management

Tieana Nakano Hunter Westcott Connell Morantte Kevin Bishop Nikki Rieken Kasey Westcott Mike Ali

Beaverton School District recognized at United Way Spirit of Generosity AwardsThe Beaverton School District was recognized with a Best of Trade Campaign Award in the Education category at the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette Spirit of Generosity Awards on June 3, 2015.

Thank you to all who participated in our annual campaign, which raised $6,361.

Title I presents “Building a Love of Learning”

Last month, the Title I Department presented an annual symposium “Building a Love of Learning” to the District’s child care providers. Thank you to Nike for providing the wonderful space and a delicious assortment of food and beverages for the 75 attendees.

Megan Irwin, Acting Early Learning System Director for Oregon Department of Education, spoke about the work occurring in the legislature in the area of early education, building community and family engagement and improving early literacy outcomes.

Jen Burkart, Beaverton School District K-8 Intervention Specialist in Teaching and Learning, spoke about the importance of building number sense in early childhood development. She actively engaged all the participants in number play games creating a joyful, engaging learning opportunity for all.

Beaverton students spell their way to top honors at Washington County Spelling Bee

Beaverton School District students took top honors in all three categories of the Washington County Spelling Contest last month. The annual competition is hosted by the Northwest Regional Education Service District (NWRESD).

First Place in Division I was Medha Nagasubramanian from Jacob Wismer, First Place in Division II was Lincoln Bay from Meadow Park Middle School and Third Place in Division III was Shelby Russett from the International School of Beaverton (ISB).

First place winner in each division is invited to attend the Oregon Statewide Spelling Championship the Saturday before Labor Day at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem.

Congratulations!

Medha Nagasubramanian Lincoln Bay Shelby Russett

Manny Norse earns “Math Coach of the Year” award

Stoller Middle School math teacher, Manny Norse, was awarded the Samuel L. Greitzer Distinguished Coach Award “Math Coach of the Year” for his long-standing work with American Regions Mathematics League (ARML).

Manny has been coaching the Oregon ARML team for the past 10 years. He works with more than 45 of Oregon’s top math students from the Beaverton School District, Eugene, Salem and Corvallis. Most of the ARML students are in high school, and at times a student in 6th grade may participate. Mr. Norse meets with students once a month for practice. The ARML competition is held every year at four different locations around the country, with the west coast competition held at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) in Las Vegas in May. This year, the Oregon

ARML team finished 6th at UNLV and 30th overall in the country (out of about 150 teams).

The Samuel L. Greitzer Distinguished Coach Award is given each year for outstanding service to a regional team. For many years, Dr. Samuel J. Greitzer, Professor Emeritus at Rutgers University, coached the United States IMO Team. Since 1992, the ARML Executive Board has presented the Samuel J. Greitzer Distinguished ARML Coach Award in his memory to recognize outstanding service to a regional ARML team. In honor of his or her commitment to mathematics students and the ARML organization, the coach is presented with an inscribed plaque at the annual ARML Competition.

Congratulations, Manny!

Meadow Park MS MESA team wins big at competition

The Meadow Park Middle School MESA (Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement) team won First Place at the 2015 Oregon MESA Day last month and will compete at the national MESA competition in Utah. Students competed using prosthetic arms they created to pick up materials, throw beanbags and maneuver a screw.

The team also won First Place in Presentation and First Place in Paperwork. Following the competition, the team was invited by the Lemelson-MIT program to demonstrate at OMSI the next day.

Meadow Park teacher, Suzanne Pittock was named MESA Advisor of the Year. Congratulations, Meadow Park MESA and Suzanne!

Hiteon 5th graders perform puppet shows

Students in Vicki Henry’s fifth grade music classes at Hiteon Elementary School perform puppet shows for younger students in the school and parents. The music unit, with a connection to literacy, has the children read children’s books, rewrite the story in a play form, create songs and sound effects and make puppets from socks, rods and fabric. Each student in the group of three to eight has a puppet to represent a character in the story.

This year, the students read and performed, Princess Penelope’s Parrot, Tacky the Penguin, Three Bears, Three Billy Goats, Anasi

the Spider and the Moss Covered Rock.

Students at William Walker ES support Nepali earthquake victims

Two third grade Nepali students at William Walker Elementary School, Numa and Pranish, worked in partnership with their teacher, Katherine Parker, to organize a coin drive to benefit those devastated by the recent earthquake in Kathmandu, Nepal. The students, whose families know many Nepalis directly impacted by the quake, created a Powerpoint slideshow that was presented school-wide to inform students about the tragedy and its ramifications.

Students diligently collected and counted the donations each day. At last count, donations from staff and students exceeded $740! The money will be converted into a money order payable to MercyCorps from William Walker Elementary School and will provide immediate water, food, and supplies to Nepali earthquake survivors.

Hats off to Numa and Pranish for conceiving and executing this idea, and many thanks to the William Walker community for their tremendous support! Numa Pranish

Three Stoller Middle School 8th graders, Grace Tran, Len Nguyen and Catherine Lian, won the Grand Prize for Fiction in the Scholastic National Kids Are Authors competition.

Their book Masterpiece was one entry among hundreds; passed through four judging levels; and will be published this fall. It will be on sale in Scholastic Book Fairs throughout the country. The level four judges included prominent authors and illustrators.

As winners, Scholastic Book Fairs will print the book and have it for sale in the fall in the fairs. The students also received a $5,000 Scholastic Dollars prize for the school as well as 100 free copies of Masterpiece.

Congratulations, Grace, Tran and Len!

Stoller MS authors win big in Scholastic writing competition

BSD student artists compete to design logo in career-related design competition

Approximately 90 high school arts, graphics, and marketing students from the Beaverton School District participated in a logo design competition for Orthopedic + Fracture (O+F) Specialists’ acute orthopedic injury hotline: 503-ATHLETE, a phone line implemented to provide prompt access to an orthopedic specialist when a fracture or sports injury occurs.

This real-world process began in January and ran the course of the semester where approximately 30 of the participating students had the opportunity to receive and implement feedback from O+F as they would in a career in graphic design. The first place winner, Patrick Breslin of Westview High School won a $2,000 scholarship. An additional $2,000 was presented to Westview’s Art Department. The runner up, Salomee Souag of Sunset High School, will also receive a $1,000 scholarship . The winning design will be featured on the O+F website as well as on other promotional initiatives related to 503-ATHLETE.

This competition provided an opportunity for students to get real-world exposure to a potential career path in working with the needs of a client, while providing the schools’ program with a relevant project to educate students. Tamara Ottum from Aloha High School’s Art Department found this to be a unique experience for her students: “This is amazing. I love that students are getting the real-world experience and feedback from someone other than me. It was a fabulous experience for our students.”

Patrick Breslin’s winning logo

Staff Spotlights

Nathan Havner - 5th Grade Teacher at Aloha-Huber Park K-8Nathan Havner took a leap of faith when he loaded up his car to drive cross-country to Oregon. That leap paid off in Illinois, when Nathan received a call from Aloha-Huber Park (A-HP) K-8 Principal Scott Drue, offering him a job.The two first met at a hiring fair last year. Nathan and his wife had already made the decision to move from Washington, D.C. to Portland. Drue just happened to be sitting behind the Beaverton School District table. “We started talking and we hit it off really well,” says Nathan.Despite not having any open positions at the time, Drue invited Nathan to interview and do a demo lesson. “It was a place I felt really

comfortable,” says Nathan. Two days later, he received a job offer from a neighboring school district. He turned down that offer in the hope that a position would open up at A-HP. “I’m just glad it worked out,” he says.Nathan grew up in Pennsylvania Amish country. He moved to Washington, D.C. shortly after graduating. During his interview for his job there, Nathan was asked how he would relate to African American kids living in poverty. “I sort of thought I had an answer, but it was only through a lot of experience working with people that are different than me, that I was able to scratch the surface.” Nathan says his years teaching on Capitol Hill helped prepare him for the diverse student body at A-HP. When asked how he’s adjusting to life in Oregon, Nathan grins, “People out here are just nicer than a lot of people on the east coast. I ride my bike to work and people don’t honk at me or try to run me off the road.” His family is settling right in as well. Nathan’s daughter likes to build fairy houses and his son is into the drums. As he sits on the floor of his classroom working on English Language Development, Nathan seems right at home. “I like the performance aspect of teaching, being a facilitator and a bridge builder, but I also like the rules.”

Staff Spotlights continued

Gail Gifford - Principal’s Secretary at Whitford Middle SchoolGail Gifford’s eyes get a little watery when she talks about leaving Whitford Middle School this month. “It really feels like home,” she says. Gail is retiring, after serving as the principal’s secretary at Whitford for the past 21 years. “I just feel so blessed to have done this job. I wouldn’t trade a thing.”This is actually Gail’s 30th year with the Beaverton School District. She started out as a volunteer at Hazeldale Elementary, where her two sons attended school. The principal suggested she apply for a position as an instructional assistant, and Gail got the job. The principal’s secretary retired the next year, and Gail applied. She spent eight years at Hazeldale

before moving to Whitford. “It’s a special place,” she says. “I really hope all schools are the same way.”While a principal’s secretary takes on several different roles, Gail says her favorite part of the job has always been interacting with people. “ I like helping them solve their issues, whether they are adults or children. It’s a challenge that I really enjoy.” She’s also enjoyed working with staff. “If I had handpicked them, I couldn’t have done any better.”Gail’s last day at Whitford will be June 30th… for now. She hopes to pass on the wisdom she’s gained in the past 21 years to the next person who holds the position. She also plans to be a substitute after retiring. As for life outside the District, Gail plans to spend some of her free time visiting her son and daughter-in-law in Utah, as well as do some traveling. Recently, she visited New York City with her son, taking in two Broadway shows and visiting the iconic Statue of Liberty. “It was amazing. I’ve never taken four days off in a row, ever in 30 years.” Having a little extra time on her hands is something Gail will have to get used to. “It will take me a while to get into a rhythm,” she says with a laugh, “but they tell me it comes pretty easily.”

Kurt Reister - 1st Grade Teacher at Raleigh ParkIn a sunny classroom at Raleigh Park Elementary School, six beady eyes watch intently as children around them work at their desks. Those eyes belong to the crayfish that currently reside in a tank in Kurt Reister’s 1st grade classroom. This is Reister’s 17th year with the Beaverton School District. All 17 years at Raleigh Park. “I’ve always enjoyed figuring out kids and how they learn,” says Reister. Teaching, however, wasn’t his first career.Reister studied radio, television and film in college. After graduating, he spent a couple of years with the Peace Corps in Kenya. That led to a job working for CNN for 11 years as a field producer. Reister says it was a

great life for a single person. “Working for CNN, you travel all sorts of places and you get to see things you would never get to see otherwise.” One of the most memorable stories he covered was Nelson Mandela’s release from prison.Reister met his wife in Africa and started a family. When they decided to move back to the United States, he contacted a teacher friend who lived in the Portland area and decided to get his teaching license. When asked why he chose to teach first grade, Reister simply says, “It’s fun.” And learning really is fun in his classroom. Students bake bread for the harvest feast and learn about measurements. They hatch chicken eggs and ask that age-old question, “which came first?” They hatch salmon eggs and learn about the lifecycle of fish.Reister says first grade is a huge learning year. “They’re young enough that they still have that sparkle of learning that, when they learn something new, they are so excited.”

Staff Spotlights continued

Chris Marino - PE Teacher at Cedar Mill Elementary SchoolChris Marino’s life revolves around two things: physical fitness and family. Lucky for him, the two often intersect. Chris has been the Physical Education teacher at Cedar Mill Elementary School for the past 18 years. “I feel really fortunate. I have a job that I look forward to every single day. I wouldn’t change it for anything,” says Chris.Physical fitness has played a big role in Chris’ life since he was a child in New York. “I’ve enjoyed being active since I was a kid,” he says. Chris played baseball and basketball in high school and continued to play basketball in college. “I started working at a sports camp during the summers in college and really enjoyed it. I knew at that point that

teaching was what I wanted to do,” says Chris. College is also where he met his wife, who grew up in Portland. The plan was to spend a few years in New York and then spend a few years in Oregon. “We moved out here and we’ve never left,” he says.Chris says he enjoys the supportive community and staff at Cedar Mill, and, of course, the students. “It’s a special place. I was very fortunate that I landed at Cedar Mill. It’s kind of a hidden gem.”When he’s not teaching his students about physical fitness, Chris is keeping fit himself. He works out six days a week and plays softball during the summer. He also enjoys going for hikes and spending time with his family. “We make it a point every night to have dinner together. It might not be until 8:30 some nights, but we talk about the day and catch up with each other,” says Chris. In addition to teaching PE, Marino also runs the 5th grade leadership program. He meets with the kids twice a month and they talk about team building and leadership. “We discuss how you can give back, and that you’re doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do,” says Chris. This year, the students ran a “Pennies for Patients” fundraiser for cancer research. For Chris, a cancer survivor, the cause hits very close to home. “We raised almost $1,600 in just four days,” he says.

Thom Bray - Drama Teacher at Five Oaks Middle SchoolSeventh grade students sit in the dark in the drama room at Five Oaks Middle School. The familiar music from the opening scene of “Westside Story” drifts out into the corridor. Drama teacher Thom Bray pauses the film. “Now look around. What colors do you see?” he asks the students. “Red,” they reply. “That’s art direction. That is intentional. The art director chose that color for a reason,” says Bray. A few minutes later, he pauses the film again. “My friend said every night he would come home black and blue from filming these fight scenes,” he says. It’s the kind of insight that comes from years spent in Los Angeles as an actor, writer and producer. He played Murray “Boz” Bozinsky in the 1980s series “Riptide.” In 1989, he transitioned into writing and producing, working on shows like “Nash Bridges,” “Designing Women” and “Evening Shade.” That was also the year he moved his family to Portland. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, Bray says it became too difficult to travel back and forth to Los Angeles so much. He took some time off and started helping out with his daughter’s drama class. “I liked it. I liked working with kids,” says Bray. So he got his teacher certification and started teaching at Five Oaks. “I love teaching middle school because the kids are still willing to play,” he says.Bray says drama teaches kids to problem-solve creatively, while also teaching soft skills like storytelling. “In an age when we’re very much concentrating on tests, I think it’s important that you don’t lose sight of those soft skills, and this is a class where they can get those,” he says. “I’m just grateful that we have drama, and that there are people who are in charge who see the value in having this for children this age.”

School Spotlights

Whitford Middle SchoolIt is a sunny spring day, and the Whitford Middle School marching band is hard at work. They are practicing in the school’s parking lot, marching through the rows of cars as they practice playing while keeping in step. It’s just one of the many things Principal Aaron Persons enjoys about his school. “We are a true comprehensive middle school, with a strong elective program. Kids are able to come here and find where their passions are,” says Persons. While the program took a hit a few years back, Persons and his staff are excited to build it back up again.Whitford also participates in the District’s Two-Way Immersion (TWI) program. The students feed into Whitford from Vose Elementary School’s TWI program. “What we’ve found, and what research shows, is that by the time students hit 6th to 8th grades, their English and Spanish skills really blossom. The years of hard work by teachers, students and their families finally bear fruit in middle school,” says Persons.While all Beaverton middle schools have started implementing the AVID (Advancement via Individual Achievement) program this year, Persons says the focus on ensuring all students are college and career ready was in place well before this year.

Whitford was also a pilot school for standards-based learning. “We have high standards for every student. If students aren’t meeting those standards, we know that it’s our responsibility to work with families and students to make sure those supports are in place,” says Persons.One of the school’s long-standing partnerships is the AASK program with Oregon Episcopal School. The program includes two components: an after-school tutoring program during the school year and a summer camp for students transitioning to and from middle school.At Whitford, volunteers don’t just come from outside of the school, but within the school as well. Sixty students volunteer in a Head Start classroom new to the school this year. Persons speaks of the “Whitford Way,” of the supportive environment for teachers, students and families. “There is a feeling that this is a good place to be, that people really look out for each other.”

Cooper Mountain Elementary SchoolIn the main hallway at Cooper Mountain Elementary School, an 8-foot owl stands at attention, his bright yellow eyes watching the 530 students who stream in each day. The owl is a character in the book “Poppy.” This year, every family and teacher at Cooper Mountain received the book, courtesy of the school’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). “We have a lot of parent support, they are very involved in the school. They really boost up everything that we do,” says Principal Nicole Will.

Cooper Mountain participates in the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program. It’s a systematic approach to teaching students acceptable behavior for school. “We really believe that it’s our responsibility as adults to teach kids what we expect of them, and when kids misbehave, we need to spend more time teaching them what we expect,” says Will. “It’s been a really positive experience and is a strong part of the culture in our school.”

Each week, 5th grade students do a podcast, called CougarCast for students, staff, parents and the community. It highlights what’s happening in the school as well as character relevant to the PBIS system. This year teacher Jeff Lewis received a grant from the Beaverton Education Foundation. It is paying for technology to improve the CougarCast. Students will also integrate the technology into their learning as well.

Will says the feeling of family among staff is very strong. “People are very connected, very caring toward one another.” And that caring attitude is the same amongst students. Says Will, “We think of it as a quiet success.”

School Spotlights continued

Cedar Mill Elementary SchoolIf there is one word Principal Brian Horne would use to describe Cedar Mill Elementary School, it would be ‘warm.’ “From the moment people walk in, whether they are visitors or new families, they all comment about how warm and welcoming we are. I’m proud that we’re seen in that light.”As part of that welcome, two geese figurines greet visitors in the main office. They sit next to the computer where volunteers and visitors sign in. The geese, a gift from Horne’s wife, have seasonal outfits. On this particular day, they are dressed in their sports gear, complete with a ball cap and a soccer ball. They even have Halloween costumes. The administrative assistants laugh as they admit that one year, they even matched their costumes to the

geese costumes.All laughing aside, community participation plays a big role at Cedar Mill. “The number of people that filter through here in a week, that support us by volunteering, fundraising or with particular projects, is huge,” says Horne. “The philosophy of ‘many hands make the work light’ is alive and well here.”On this cloudy morning, students in one classroom are taking a brain break. In case you’re not familiar with the term, brain breaks get students up and moving around for a short time in between learning. Many of the teachers at Cedar Mill give the kids brain breaks. Cedar Mill also participates in Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program. It’s a systematic approach to teaching students acceptable behavior for school. “We live it and our kids know it,” says Horne. The school also has a strong 5th grade leadership group, the Lumberjack Leaders. “The goal would be for every single 5th grader to be a lumberjack, but it’s a standard, and we hold the kids to that standard.”

Principal Profiles

Aaron Persons - Whitford Middle SchoolHigh on a bookshelf in Principal Aaron Persons’ office sit a rather large pair of adidas shoes. They were a gift from his former colleagues at Five Oaks Middle School. “When I got the job at Whitford, they said ‘you’re going to a new job, your first job as a principal, and you’ve got some big shoes to fill,” says Persons. Whitford’s previous principal was Executive Administrator for Middle Schools Matt Casteel.Persons, who is now in his fourth year leading Whitford, seems to have settled in just fine. In fact, he was no stranger to the school. Persons taught 8th grade science there for four years earlier in his career. Education, however, wasn’t his original career choice. Persons grew up in Stayton and lived on the edge of town. One of nine children, he often coached his younger siblings’ sports teams. He studied pre-med in college. In the summers, he worked at a lumber mill. “I know how to grade lumber, pull green chain and feed logs into a dryer,” says Persons. During his sophomore year, he signed up to mentor a student at a Salem middle school. He also volunteered in an emergency room, helping restock supplies. “It didn’t really feel like it fit me, whereas, I felt a strong connection to education and to working with kids.”When he was considering a move into administration, Persons was concerned about maintaining that connection with students. “I do see it. It’s different, but I still have that feeling like what we’re doing is making a difference. I still get to see the growth and feel like I’m a part of the students’ success,” he says.When he’s not in the school, Persons enjoys spending time with his family. He has four children, two girls and two boys.

Principal Profiles continued

Brian Horne - Cedar Mill Elementary SchoolCedar Mill Elementary School Principal Brian Horne says he’s good where he is. “This is it for me. I don’t want to go anywhere else.” This is Horne’s 8th year at Cedar Mill. Born and raised in Hillsboro, Horne attended the University of Oregon, Portland State University and Linfield College. Journalism was his first interest during his freshman year, but he soon learned it probably wasn’t for him. “You grow up a bit in college, discover who you are. I enjoyed working with kids and coaching. Education felt like a very natural fit,” says Horne.After teaching for in the North Marion School District, he decided to move into administration. “When I was taking classes at PSU, they were all taught by Beaverton administrators. When they talked about Beaverton, I thought, wow, that’s where I want to be,” he says.

Horne enjoys Cedar Mill for its closeness. “The staff enjoys each other, both professionally and personally. Because we’re a small school, we get to know the kids. Nobody slips by,” says Horne.When he’s not leading students and staff at Cedar Mill, Horne enjoys spending time with his wife. She is a travel agent and the two have taken trips to France and Norway, among others. He’s also working feverishly to improve his golf game, which he says is nonexistent. You also might be surprised Horne is a huge Disneyland fan. For his 50th birthday, his wife and kids surprised him with a trip. “I just love Disneyland. Every time I’ve been, I find something new that I enjoy even more.” He’s also a big fan of the man behind the mouse. “With how he thought about people, what people need and how to spark the imagination, Walt Disney could’ve led a school district.”

Jill O’Neill - International School of Beaverton (ISB)International School of Beaverton (ISB) Principal Jill O’Neill knew she wanted to be a teacher before she even stepped foot inside a school. “When I saw my older brother going off to school, I was jealous of him,” says O’Neill. The only question was, what kind of teacher? Eventually, O’Neill ended up majoring in secondary Social Science education.

“Teaching young adolescents and the potential to help students become more abstract thinkers, to be able to consider values and perspectives that they haven’t been exposed to yet, it’s such a fantastic opportunity,” says O’Neill.

After graduating from the education program at Oregon State University, O’Neill took a job in Rialto, California. She spent 13 years in the area as a social studies teacher, student activities director, principal and assistant principal. Then the September 11th terrorist attacks happened. “It made me question why I was so far away from family if time is so precious.” O’Neill and her then-husband decided to turn their eyes north. They both managed to land jobs in the Portland metro area in the same week.

O’Neill was principal at Meadow Park Middle School for eight years. This is her 5th year at ISB. One of the aspects of ISB she really appreciates is the school culture. “Students have as much ownership in our system as the teachers do. They have high expectations of one another. So if I am in your group for a project, of course you’re going to come to class prepared. There’s a mutual accountability and no one has explicitly taught that,” says O’Neill.

When she’s not at school, you can find O’Neill curled up with a good book, or hitting the ski slopes with her three sons. All three are now in college. Will they follow in their mother’s footsteps? O’Neill says her youngest son wants to be a high school history teacher, but she also has an eye on her oldest son. “I think his calling is to be a teacher.”

Principal Profiles continued

Annie Pleau - McKinley Elementary SchoolFrench, Chinese, Russian, Turkmen and English. Those are the five languages McKinley Elementary School Principal Annie Pleau speaks. It’s no wonder Pleau believes strongly in the importance of teaching languages early. “If you ask me the one thing that’s wrong with the education system in America, it’s that we start language too late. You have to start early if you want any sort of fluency,” says Pleau. She’s thrilled to be able to offer her students Spanish next year.

Pleau attended a French school from the age of five and is very fluent. She majored in Chinese Anthropology and French in college, hoping to be an archaeologist in China. After graduating, she joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in Turkmenistan, where she picked up Russian and Turkmen and taught school. “They mean it when they say it’s the toughest job you’ll ever love,” says Pleau.

Originally from Colorado, this is Pleau’s 6th year at McKinley. “I love working with the staff here,” she says. “They’re very responsive and they care so deeply.” She mentions the school’s preparations to apply to be a Primary Years Programme (PYP) International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. “This was extra learning that the staff took on. In addition to all the have-to’s like Common Core and a new teacher evaluation system. We chose to do this because we wanted to,” says Pleau.

It’s that kind of dedication that makes Pleau love her school. “The staff and students are very resilient,” she says. “We just don’t give up, we keep trying.”

Operation School Bell assists students in the BSD

Thank you to Assistance League of Greater Portland and the wonderful volunteers in their Operation School Bell (OSB) program. This year their chapter celebrates 50 years of serving the community.

In the fall of 2014, OSB provided new clothing for 1,019 K-5th graders in need. The children were able to pick out a new winter coat, two pair of jeans, two tops, five pair of undies and pair of socks. They also received a $22 Payless shoe card.

This spring, Assistance League paid for new clothing for 700 6th - 12th graders living with extreme financial hardship. The students shopped at Beaverton Fred Meyer and the Assistance League paid up to $125 per stu-dent for their items.

Thank you, Assistance League of Greater Portland for supporting the most vulnerable of students in the Beaverton School District.

For more information, contact Jan Regnier, Teaching and Learning.

2014-2015 Employee Service & Retirement Awards

RetireesOak HillsMichiko Myoga

Sexton MountainCheryl Contreras

The following individuals announced their retirements after the publication of the June 1, 2015 ESRA edition of the Staff Talk newsletter. Congratulations, and thank you for your service.

The Beaverton School District recognizes the diversity and worth of all individuals and groups. It is the policy of the Beaverton School District that there will be no discrimination or harassment of individuals or groups based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, marital status, age, veterans’ status, genetic information or disability in any educational programs, activities or employment.

Tamara Ottum named Outstanding Art Teacher of the Year - student artists honored

Tamara Ottum, Art teacher at Aloha High School was named Outstanding Art Teacher of the Year by the Beaverton Arts Commission (BAC). Tamara was recognized at the City Council Meeting on June 9, 2015.

Several Beaverton School District students were also recognized during the Outstanding Achievements in the Arts presentations. Student honorees were recommended by their teachers, selected by an arts education panel and approved by the BAC Board of Directors. Nineteen students will receive scholarships sponsored by the Beaverton Arts & Culture Foundation, Juan Young Trust, Southminster Presbyterian Church, Celebration of Creativity and the Reser Family Foundation.

Outstanding High School Visual Art Students:• Brooklynn Gering, Aloha High School• Zakary Gibbons, Aloha High School• Sean Oulashin, Aloha High School• Nicklaus Shorten, Aloha High School• Kyle Blaich, Arts & Communication Magnet Academy (ACMA)• Asia Brown, ACMA• Emily Cheng, ACMA• Noah Marger, ACMA• Allison Schukis, ACMA• Andrei Eugenio, Beaverton High School• Charlotte Newsom, Beaverton High School• Kesiah Manival, International School of Beaverton (ISB)• Kiele Schneckloh, Sunset High School

Outstanding High School Performing Arts Students• Nicholas Jurica, ACMA• Katie McLoughlin, ACMA• Savannah Panah, ACMA• Lauren Evers, Beaverton High School• Benjamin Pikus, School of Science & Technology (SST)

Congratulations, Tamara and student artists!

Stoller MS 8th grader wins National History Bee

Benji Chiu, an 8th grader at Stoller Middle School, won the 2015 National History Bee for Middle School. Benji was awarded $1,000, a trophy and entry into the inaugural International History Olympiad with all expenses paid.

The National History Bee for Middle School, created by the National History Bee and Bowl (NHBB), is an academic quiz tournament that promotes history education in a fun and exciting way. In this fast-paced competition, students race to demonstrate their knowledge of history from a wide array of eras and disciplines. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt sponsors the Grand Prize scholarship.