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Nearly everyone can relate to the feeling of being a new student at school…the nerves, the uncertainty, with maybe even a little excitement mixed in. But what if you were brand new to a school…as the principal?  In this episode, meet two new NCSD administrators who felt all the emotions of not only being new to their school, but also new to the principal position. We start with Katrina Edwards, the new enthusiastic principal of Verne Duncan Elementary, who shares the joy she finds each day in her first principal assignment. Then it’s off to high school, visiting with Sabin-Schellenberg’s new Assistant Principal Liz Maki, who says she “won the jackpot” landing her first administrator role at our district’s award winning professional technical center.  

Episode 46 - It's A Matter Of Principal

It was just another day when the phone rang in Robert Parker’s office seven years ago, when the practicing architect was busily going about his routine of drawing plans and scheduling meetings with clients. He never dreamed that phone call would change his life forever, when a local school principal was on the line. 

“They had a need and they were desperate,” explained a smiling Parker. “They invited me in and I got in the classroom and I realized this is a good fit for me—I just like the feeling, I like the excitement, and I like the impact you can have on young people, so I got hooked…and here I am.”

“Here” is NCSD’s Sabin-Schellenberg Professional Technical Center, where the start of Parker’s third period class was suddenly interrupted this week by several district and regional education leaders. That’s when to the excitement of cheering students and colleagues, Parker was named the 2024-25 Regional Teacher of the Year for Clackamas County.

Forty years ago, students might call a fun day at school totally tubular.  Earlier this week at Happy Valley Elementary, it was totally…circular…as students and staff were quick to "spot" hundreds of unique decorations suddenly dotting hallway walls and windows Monday morning.

The spotty circles in all different sizes and colors are a traditional part of the school's annual celebration of International Dot Day, a day inspired by a familiar children's book to Happy Valley students called The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. The award-winning book is about a caring teacher who encourages a student named Vashti to “make her mark.” Vashti couldn’t draw, so she simply made a single dot on a piece of paper.   

In the past, NCSD has canceled school days because of icy road conditions or poor outdoor air quality…but never extreme heat during a school year.  That is, until Friday, September 6th…as temperatures crept toward triple digits the previous afternoon without major cooling in the overnight forecast.  In this season’s debut episode, we sit down with Superintendent Dr. Shay James, NCSD Chief of Operations Teresa Neff-Webster, Facility Operations Supervisor Leif Palmer, and Adrienne C. Nelson High School Principal Greg Harris to give you behind-the-scenes look at the many aspects considered before making such an important decision.

Episode 45 - Tackling a Hot Topic: NCSD's Extreme Heat Closure

If you have students in school, you’ve probably heard your share of school-related acronyms, including I-E-P.  An Individualized Education Plan serves as a vital connection between schools and families with students who need a little extra help with academics or behavior.  But what exactly is an IEP, and how does the legal document help foster a trusting bond between families and school personnel?  In this episode, meet NCSD parents Colleen Sackos and Sean Kriloff, who each have kids receiving Special Education services in different NCSD schools, and share their emotional story of how an IEP helps give their students an extra boost, and their families extra comfort.

Episode 44 - Students With IEPs: Inspirational Exceptional Parents

The sounds echoing throughout Rowe Middle School's hallways during this past July might've caught visitors a little off guard.  What would normally be a silent summertime kitchen was actually brimming with students noisily clanging bowls and measuring cups.  The stage area, usually vacant and reserved for a deep scrubbing once the school year ends, suddenly became a lively spot for student drum and electric guitar solos, and even fancy DJ equipment.

When Jake Lee asked his kindergarten students at Scouters Mountain Elementary about ways they could spread kindness throughout local neighborhoods, all 24 of his enthusiastic five- and six-year-olds immediately signed up. And by “signing up,” that meant putting motivational signs up at landmarks all over the Scouters Mountain and Happy Valley area, including walking trails, parks, and even the local library. See how the kindness is spreading beyond the classroom and throughout the community.

Why did three enthusiastic team members from the Clackamas Trader Joe’s recently pay a very special visit to a Mt. Scott Elementary classroom?  It turns out they received a unique request in a persuasive letter written by third grader Xander Sievers, then responded in a way students in teacher Liz Maxwell’s classroom won’t soon forget!  In this episode, learn why Xander’s letter now proudly hangs on display at the grocery store, and how NCSD’s focus on elementary writing skills is resulting in more students excited about putting pencil to paper, and more teachers excited to teach the power of persuasion! 

Episode 43 - Persuasive Prose & Trader Joe's

When thinking about famous Tigers, some might think about an icon in professional golf…or the Grrrrrreat spokesperson of a favorite breakfast cereal…but did you know that NCSD has its own team of Tigers roaring past all competition in the annual Oregon Battle of the Books?  Spring Mountain Elementary’s Midnight Tigers are a gifted group of five fabulous fifth graders who recently outperformed schools from all across the region in the fast-paced question-and-answer reading comprehension challenge, advancing all the way to the state finals!  In this episode, we learn how “The Midnight Tigers” challenged themselves chapter by chapter in 16 different books to become the only NCSD team…and the first ever from Spring Mountain…to earn statewide recognition as page-turning prodigies!  

Episode 42 - Spring Mountain's "Midnight Tigers" Earn Their Stripes

All in one day, more than 1,400 NCSD high school juniors boarded busses for a field trip to downtown Portland’s Convention Center to participate in the Northwest Youth Careers Expo…and this episode of the “Proud To Be NCSD” podcast follows them from start to finish!  As you’ll hear, this was certainly not “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off!”  Students from Milwaukie, Rex Putnam, Clackamas, Adrienne C. Nelson, Clackamas Web Academy, Clackamas Middle College, and the Virtual Online Program spent hours learning about potential careers, building their resumes, and participating in mock job interviews. 

Episode 41 - Field Trip Day For NCSD Juniors