May - June NWESD Board to Board Newsletter

board to board

May - June 2020

News from the Board of NWESD

2020 NWESD High School Art Show Regional Finalists

The student artwork pictured has advanced onto OSPI in Olympia, and is on display at the Superintendent’s High School Art Show.

Artwork name, artist, and teacher are listed on the back cover. View all 2020 art show entries online at: nwesd.org/nwesd-regional-high-school-art-show

A Note from Our Superintendent It’s often said that no one truly knows what they are capable of until challenged by the most extreme adversity. In a matter of days this past March, all of us found ourselves challenged in ways none of us would have predicted mere weeks earlier. The rapid spread of a global pandemic shuttered schools and instantly thrust all of K-12 education into a remote distance learning model for which very few educators or families were adequately prepared. In my 30 years of work in K-12, this is the greatest adversity experienced individually and collectively in our public school systems.

Yet in the midst of a crisis that will undoubtedly cause permanent change in public education, I could not be more proud or humbled by the herculean efforts I have witnessed to shift our educational practice from a generations old model of schooling.

From the early initial efforts to assure that students in need were fed and childcare was provided to vital first responders and healthcare workers, educators and families quickly pivoted to developing long-term plans for continuous distance learning for the balance of this school year, and possibly into the next. To a person, every educator I have spoken with during this crisis acknowledges that they are working harder than ever to make this time as meaningful and impactful as possible to the millions of students affected by circumstances well beyond anyone’s ability to control.

Has it all been perfect and seamless? Far from it. Are all students and communities being equitably served? Regrettably, no. Are we continuing to improve daily in our practice, outreach, and engagement of kids and families? Absolutely.

As a history major, I think back to the Great Depression, arguably the last time our country faced social dislocation such as we’re experiencing now. I liken the response of our educators to that of President Roosevelt and the alphabet soup of New Deal programs he championed. Many were successful and continue to form the fabric of our society today. Others were not successful and were abandoned over time. But the overriding priority then was the same as it is today – in a time of extreme circumstances and need, the imperative must be to do something to improve the lives and situations of families adversely impacted through no fault of their own. Doing nothing or waiting the crisis out is not an option. And that is exactly what I have seen growing and building across our region and state since schools closed to in-person instruction in mid-March.

While it is likely that aspects of our lives and how we view and deliver public education may never return to a pre-COVID-19 normal, this time has further highlighted and exacerbated the many inequities we already knew existed in our school systems and society. The presence or absence of access to stable housing, broadband internet, technology, financial resources, social and emotional supports, childcare, and parents who can be present and supportive of their child’s learning are some of the many factors that influence how this time plays out differently for families. I hope that a positive outcome of this crisis will be a renewed societal commitment to further address and mitigate these inequities which too often follow predictable patterns of race, income, special needs, and primary language.

As trying as this time is, I choose to remain hopeful. My hope is grounded in what I observe daily from educators and families across our region as they confront old assumptions of what is possible, rise to meet the adversity in which we find ourselves, and find new paths forward to meet the challenges we face.

Larry Francois I wish you continued safety and health.

NWESD Superintendent

Welcome New Regional Superintendents

Dr. Gustavo Balderas Edmonds SD

Dr. Justin Blasko Monroe SD

Dr. Justin Irish Anacortes SD

Dr. Ismael Vivanco Mount Vernon SD

Fred Woods

San Juan Island SD Mark Gardner Photography

Retirement Announcement After 45 years of service to the special education community (13 of those years at the NWESD), Special Programs and Services Director Shirley Cutshall has announced her retirement for June, 2020.

Throughout her career in education, Shirley has always worked with disadvantaged youth or students with disabilities. Some of her positions included private, non-profit agencies as Developmental Disabilities Coordinator (birth to adult), Social Skills Counselor for students with emotional/behavioral difficulties in a residential treatment center, followed by public education positions as special education teacher, program coordinator, counselor, behavior specialist, school psychologist, program specialist, principal intern, and director.

Shirley plans to retire with her husband to the Southern Oregon Coast where they bought a house six years ago. She looks forward to checking some faraway places off of her bucket list: sightseeing, traveling, and cruising with friends Shirley will be missed, we truly appreciate her contributions to the NWESD and beyond. Please join us in wishing Shirley the best in her retirement.

New to the NWESD

Congratulations!

The NWESD is thrilled to welcome Fran McCarthy as our new Special Programs and Services Director. Fran will step into this role following Shirley Cutshall’s retirement at the end of June.

Prior to joining the NWESD Fran was the Executive Director of Student Support Services in the Anacortes SD, a role she has held since 2018. Fran also served for seven years as the Special Education Director at Northeast Washington ESD 101 in Spokane, so she is well acquainted with the work of ESDs supporting districts in a regional delivery and service model. Fran’s teaching background is in the elementary and middle school levels. She has served as a TOSA, elementary assistant principal, elementary principal, and a district special services director.

When Fran is not working and advocating for students with disabilities and equity, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, travel and living vicariously through her two very adventurous adult daughters. She has lived in the Pacific Northwest for 35 years.

Contact: fmcarthy@nwesd.org

The State Board of Education, the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee (EOGOAC), and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction have identified 391 schools statewide to receive recognition.

These schools in Washington stand out for closing gaps, showing growth, and demonstrating achievement according to new data released by the state. Washington school recognition has been reimagined to honor schools that have received support and are thriving and to highlight positive school systems changes happening all over the state. This year, 391 schools are being recognized, 46 schools in the NWESD region.

Bellingham, Meridian

2020 NWESD REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ART SHOW

Dr. Jack Thompson, District 2

Congratulations to the NWESD winners who are headed to the State High School Art Show at OSPI in Olympia!

Charles Crabtree, District 1

Blaine, Ferndale, Lopez Island, Lynden, Mount Baker, Nooksack Valley, Orcas Island, San Juan Island, Shaw Island Mark Venn, District 3 Anacortes, Burlington-Edison, Concrete, Conway, Darrington, La Conner, Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley Claudia Talmadge, District 4 Coupeville, Lakewood, Mukilteo, Oak Harbor, South Whidbey, Stanwood-Camano Dr. Alan Erickson, District 5 Everett

Cory Duskin, District 6 Arlington, Granite Falls, Index, Marysville, Sultan Claudia Buxton, District 7 Edmonds, Mukilteo

Sue Phillips, District 8 Edmonds, Mukilteo

Merle Kirkley, District 9 Lake Stevens, Monroe, Snohomish

Cover artwork from left to right, top to bottom Katie Leigh Place “Wish You Were Here” Friday Harbor SD Instructor: Andrew Anderson Katie Leigh Place “Wave of Turmoil” Friday Harbor SD Instructor: Andrew Anderson Soma Belle Andrews “Leather and Lace” Friday Harbor SD Instructor: Andrew Anderson Peyton S. Wood “Pothos” Oak Harbor SD Instructor: Kit Christopherson Natalie Rodriguez “Gaea’s Tears” South Whidbey SD Instructor: Helene Zawila Ayla Sarina Ridwan “Rising Tide” Friday Harbor SD Instructor: Andrew Anderson

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