Polk County Education
12A Polk County itemizer-Observer • march 8, 2017
SCHOOL NOTES
DSD enlists help for CTE development
DAllAS — tim ray, Dallas High School’s former agricultural
teacher, is returning to the district to help design DHS’ career
and technical education program.
“We are very excited to have tim ray come back on to help
us with CtE,” Superintendent michelle Johnstone said as she in-
troduced ray on Feb. 27 at a Dallas School Board meeting.
School districts across the state will be receiving funding for
CtE from measure 98, which voters approved in november. Dal-
las expects to receive about $400,000 in each of the next two
years.
ray said he is eager to get started and will began work next
week.
“Very, very pleased at this stage in my career to come back to
a district, in a community like this, that cares so much about
kids, and to have a small piece in however this plays out,” he
said.
State approves Measure 98 rules
Emily mEntzEr/itemizer-Observer
Gov. Kate Brown reads to Ash Creek Elementary School students on Thursday’s Read Across America kickoff.
‘A Great Day for Up’
Students get a chance to meet Gov. Kate Brown, learn what she does for fun
By Emily Mentzer
the itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH — What is
Gov. Kate Brown’s favorite
food? What kind of music
does she like? Has she ever
been scared? What does she
do for fun?
“I like to do yoga for fun,”
Brown said. “I like to stand
on my head, and I like to do
frog pose, and I like to do
downward dog.”
Students laughed imagin-
ing the governor standing
on her head or doing poses
with animal names.
These were a handful of
questions curious students at
A s h C re e k E l e m e n t a r y
School had for Oregon’s gov-
ernor. Brown came to ACES
Thursday morning to cele-
brate the Read Across Ameri-
ca kickoff, which also honors
author Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
Students also learned that
Emily mEntzEr/itemizer-Observer
Gov. Kate Brown receives a gift from ACES on Thursday.
Brown loves roasted vegeta-
bles, listens to Katy Perry,
and was scared recently
when flying in a Black Hawk
helicopter in Eastern Ore-
gon.
“The other person I was
with — there was a big open
window — and because he
was in the gunner’s seat, he
leaned out the window while
we were flying in the heli-
copter,” Brown recalled. “It
was very scary.”
Brown was greeted by stu-
dent ambassadors from
each grade level before
heading into a packed li-
brary to read, “A Great Day
for Up,” by Dr. Seuss.
“Who likes to sleep in on
Saturdays?” Brown asked the
engaged students. Everyone
raised their hands. “Me too!”
On learning that the eagle
is the ACES mascot, Brown
said, “Oregon’s state motto
is, ‘She flies with her own
wings,’ so I encourage each
and every one of you to fly
with your own wings.”
Read Across America was
started by a small reading
task force at the National
Education Association in
1997. March 2, Dr. Seuss’
birthday, serves as a “pep
rally” to get kids excited
about reading.
The beloved children’s au-
thor’s birthday was chosen in
part because of his efforts to
increase children’s literacy.
See SEUSS, Page 7A
SAlEm — the Oregon Board of Education on Feb. 23 adopt-
ed the rules school districts must follow to receive measure 98
funding.
Voters passed the ballot measure in november to provide fi-
nancial support for high schools to establish or expand career
technical education programs, teach college-level classes and
to prevent dropouts.
“measure 98 presents a unique opportunity to target re-
sources at one of Oregon’s most pressing challenges, our grad-
uation rate,” said State Deputy Superintendent Salam noor in a
press release.
Districts applying for the funding — up to $800 per stu-
dent — must submit a biennial plan for approval by the Oregon
Department of Education. the plan must address all three of
the measure’s focus areas.
Funding amounts will be determined by how much money is
available for the state legislature to allocate to the “High School
Graduation and College and Career readiness Fund” created by
measure 98.
Seeking Oregon’s next Teacher of Year
SAlEm — Every year, the Oregon Department of Education
honors teachers and their impact on students’ lives through the
Oregon teacher of the year award.
the award recognizes an outstanding teacher as a represen-
tative of all of the educators in our state and gives Oregonians
an opportunity to share information on teachers who are mak-
ing a difference in their communities.
nominations are now being accepted for the 2018 Oregon
teacher of the year award.
Anyone can nominate a prekindergarten through grade 12
teacher for the award, but teachers may not nominate them-
selves. Candidates should have the respect and admiration of
their colleagues and:
• Be an expert in their field who guides students of all back-
grounds and abilities to achieve excellence.
• Collaborate with colleagues, students, and families to cre-
ate a school culture of respect and success.
• Deliberately connect the classroom and key stakeholders to
foster a strong community at large.
• Demonstrate leadership and innovation in and outside of
the classroom walls that embodies lifelong learning.
• Express themselves in an engaging and articulate way.
the deadline for nominations is Friday.
to learn more about the teacher of the year program or to
make a nomination today, go to: http://ore-
gonteacheroftheyear.org/.
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