OEA Grow

Can we create learning environments where students are treated how they would like to be treated? Trace Mansfield, an Assistive Technology Specialist with Lane County Education Service District, calls that “the platinum rule.” In this episode, Venus talks with Trace about assistive technology (AT) and how AT can connect many students to what they want to explore and learn. Trace focuses his suppor...

In part two of Venus’s conversation with school psychologist Justin Potts, and Student Services Administrator Dr. Karen Apgar, we learn about IEPs and the myriad of roles that school psychologists have in education. Data and teamwork resonate as the critical components in the special education eligibility process. Karen shares how the scientific method can be used as a framework to understand that...

This episode is part one in a two-part series explaining 504 plans (504s) and Individual Education Plans (IEPs). Venus talks with Justin Potts, a School Psychologist, and Dr. Karen Apgar, a Student Services Administrator. Justin and Karen share the origins of and changes that continue to impact special education and 504s. Karen debunks common myths associated with 504s and IEPs. Complicated and de...

Ever wondered what your Educational Service District (ESD) support providers do? This week, Venus talks with Kelly Gill and Sam Aley, specialists in the South Coast ESD. Their broad knowledge on ESDs and their humor is beneficial for everyone to hear! Sam’s and Kelly’s conversation brings clarity to a system that plays a critical role in supporting many Oregon schools. We learn about the services...

Ever wondered how Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) are created? This week Venus speaks with Sandra Walk, a school psychologist at a Canby-area high school. Sandra discusses how to achieve an individualized plan that meets the needs of the student. She describes the difference between an accommodation and a modification. Team-based decision making is a critical part of the IEP process, and San...

Welcome to season seven of the OEA Grow Podcast, a member-led production of the Oregon Education Association. This season’s host is Venus Reeve, a special education teacher in the Eugene 4J School District since 2008. Season seven will focus on special education. A variety of topics that impact general and special education students will be covered. Member-to- member conversations will provide lis...

Have you ever wondered how to better connect what you’re teaching to your student’s experience? This episode answers this very question. Jenoge speaks with Brad Parker, a Social Studies Specialist for the Beaverton School District. Brad starts his conversation by sharing his early education experience, growing up outside of Chicago. His upbringing and education, in a racially and ethnically divers...

This week, Jenoge talks with Kara Olsen, a student-centered Kindergarten teacher from the Corvallis School District. Kara and Jenoge start the conversation discussing the value of teacher-student and teacher-parent relationships. How much do we consider the role of students’ families in planning? According to Kara, families can play a critical role in building community and relevant instruction in...

In this episode on Playful Inquiry, Jenoge speaks with Angela Vargas, an Early Learning TOSA in the Beaverton School District. In her current position, she partners with kindergarten and first grade teachers to enhance their classrooms toward a more student-centered practice focused on playful inquiry. Angela believes in an asset based approach to education, recognizing the assets of both students...

Black History Month is an annual reminder to reflect on the history of Black Americans and their contributions to our country and culture, but it’s easy to default to only discussing the most-repeated stories of slavery and civil rights marches, Dr. King, and Rosa Parks. This week, we take a break from our student-centered curriculum season to bring you a special episode on Teaching Black History...

This week Jenoge speaks with Anil Naik, a high school classroom teacher and social studies TOSA (Teacher on Special Assignment) in the Beaverton School District. Jenoge and Anil open their conversation with Anil sharing his background as a child of immigrants and how his childhood experience informs his teaching. They share ideas around development of racial consciousness and the value of learning...

This week Jenoge speaks with Tana Shepard, a TOSA (Teacher on Special Assignment) for Climate, Energy and Conservation in Eugene School District 4J. Tana connects back to her experience as a K-12 learner. She speaks about being inspired by “fitting the niche of the learner” and how that philosophy informs her practice as an educator. Tana shares her value of connecting students to the place where...

This week Jenoge speaks with Leah Dunbar, Language Arts/Social Studies Specialist for the Lane Education Service District. Leah is a teacher who passionately turns student learning into action. She has years of experience teaching Language Arts and Ethnic Studies at the high school level. Her teaching experience and service-oriented philosophy toward students, results in a conversation with Jenoge...

Welcome to OEA Grow’s sixth season, focusing on Student-Centered Curriculum. Our host for season six is educator and leader, Jenoge Khatter. Jenoge is a Social Studies Specialist and Representative Assembly Delegate for Eugene Education Association.  This season Jenoge is going to talk with a variety of educators from all over the state. His experience as a teacher and educator-leader will manifes...

This week we have an extended episode focused on financial planning and literacy. Listen in as Leonne Bannister chats with Chris Lahman, high school teacher and Member Benefits Coach for his local education association. As a Member Benefits Coach, Chris helps members through the financial education and planning process. He is passionate about financial security and wants to share his knowledge wit...

In our final episode on behavior, Alexis speaks with Ashley East. Ashley has been a kindergarten and first grade loop teacher for ten years. Ashley loops two academic school years with her students, therefore typically having the same group of students for two years. She shares the advantages and disadvantages of this model and how the unique benefits of looping can be used to impact any classroom...

In this episode, Alexis speaks with School Psychologist, Ashley Scott. Ashley uses her formal training as a school psychologist to inform a behavior and social-emotional learning environment at her school. She describes how multi-tiered support and interventions can positively impact the school environment. For example, she describes her practice of greeting students by their name each morning as...

In this episode about suicide prevention, Alexis talks with Leslie Rogers, Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Leslie is currently a Safety and Wellness Educator on Special Assignment in the Beaverton School District and has had a long career dedicated to the well-being of teenagers. In her current role, she oversees and implements policies and protocols related to suicide prevention, intervention, a...

How is student behavior showing up in your work environment? This is the question Alexis poses to first grade teacher Sara Roadman. Sara has 13 years of experience as a classroom teacher, experience as a substitute, and she’s also an OEA professional learning facilitator. With challenges such as large class sizes, Sara finds the student-teacher relationship is the most important strategy for class...

Colin Price has been teaching writing and ELA for 13 years both in the United States and the Middle East. In this episode, Alexis and Colin explore the power of writing and story. They intersect ideas for using writing as a powerful SEL tool with discussion of how behavior can show up in ways other than “disruption”. For example, withdrawal and shutting down might be behaviors seen in high school...

Alexis continues the conversation with school social workers Talia Akre and Anna McNeely. In part 2 of this conversation, they focus on resources for educators to use. One strategy they discuss is the creation of staff teams of support and action when faced with a student mental health and/or behavior issue. They stress that educators are not called on to do therapy but to connect students of all...

Curious about social workers in schools and their thoughts on student mental health? Tune in for the thoughts and experiences of Talia Akre and Anna McNeely, two social work staff members with Multnomah ESD. This is an honest conversation about the status of mental health issues in schools and the experience of social workers in Oregon schools.    Resources: School Social Workers’ Role in Addressi...

In episode three, Alexis discusses school climate with Dr. Vicki Nishioka, Principal Researcher on Equity and School Climate at Education Northwest. Their discussion of school climate incorporates research, policy, and day-to-day strategies.  One focus of their conversation is how to prevent school discipline incidents with proactive school climate strategies such as helping students and teachers...

To kick-off the Behavior season, member host Alexis Hennessey talks with educator Mary Michael about co-regulation, social emotional learning, and trauma informed behavior approaches. Mary has been an educator for over 30 years, has taught every grade level from Kindergarten to ninth grade, and is currently a certified trauma-informed mental health and behavior specialist. Mary and Alexis pack a w...

Welcome to OEA Grow’s fifth season where educators take a deep dive into behavior. Season five is hosted by Behavior Consultant and OEA Member Alexis Hennessey. Alexis is in her 19th year as an educator and is licensed in Behavior, Special Education, and General Education.  She’s also one of OEA’s facilitators in the Becoming a Trauma Informed Educator series of courses (free to members). Alexis w...