Since the award of the TIF grant we have been waiting for one key piece to fall into place: a TIF grant manager.

We are thrilled to have Bev Pratt joining our team to manage the TIF grant. A long time Oregon educator, Bev taught math for the Salem Keizer School District for many years. In her more recent role with the Oregon Department of Education she coordinated several federal grants and led the Oregon Mentor Project. With extensive relationships throughout Oregon, and a history of successful work with the federal Department of Education, our partner school districts and professional staff will be well-served by Bev in this pivotal role.

Chalkboard is also pleased to welcome Sally Jansen as our incoming Finance Specialist. She will take the place of John Hamilton, who, in February, will begin spending half of his retirement in the Sunny Southwest and half with his grandchildren in Oregon.

Sally comes to us as a financial manager with over 15 years of expertise in financial management and reporting, strategic planning and project management.  Most recently she was the Controller for Camps Lumber & Building Supply, Inc. and filled the same position for Columbia Sportswear. We look forward to Sally joining our team.

Welcome Bev and Sally!

Chalkboard's Sue Hildick met Jessica Brenden during her student-for-a day experience at Washington Elementary in the Salem-Keizer School District. We asked Jessica to share a bit more about her role in the district.

You are an instructional coach in the Salem-Keizer School District. What does that title mean and how does your job impact students?

For a long time, schools and teachers were focused on subjects.  After years of research, finally education in America is focusing on instruction because that is where the power learning begins.  As an instructional coach, I feel I am providing teachers with another set of instructionally tuned ears and eyes to help them focus on honing powerful strategies.  When I can help a teacher take a close look at his or her own teaching, this results in rigorous learning for students.

Assuming you visit many different classrooms and talk with a number of teachers, what are you looking for and how do you know where you'll be most helpful?

A visit to a classroom is an opportunity to determine my effectiveness as a coach and to see what a teacher might need next.  I get to observe teachers trying new strategies, language, or organizational techniques we may have discussed.  Also, when I am in classrooms, I look to see if students are engaged and challenged:  if they are, I ensure the teacher knows that the hard work with planning and instruction is connected to the engagement.  Being a positive and supportive presence is the MOST helpful way to encourage teacher growth.

Why do you think it is important for teachers to have career options besides either being a full-time classroom teacher or becoming an administrator?

Many of our teachers have a natural tendency toward leadership, but many don't want to be at the helm of the ship that is a school.  Other career options provide the leadership teachers are looking for while still positively affecting student achievement (in Salem-Keizer, we have program specialists, instructional coaches, and other 'certified' positions which provide support to classroom teachers).  Educators want to impact students and, for some, administration is just too far from the classroom.  Having career options that are out of the classroom (but not administration) helps teachers be supportive leaders AND change student lives.