Student leaders from across Eastern Oregon distributed more than $70,000 in grants to local nonprofits and school programs
Read the full story: https://eastoregonian.com/2025/05/12/eastern-oregon-student-leaders-award-70138-in-grants-to-local-nonprofits-and-schools/
Congratulations to the 2025 Crystal Apple Leadership Award winner, Scott Carpenter of the La Grande School District!Thank you for your dedication and hard work toward student success in your district.
Read the full article: https://www.imesd.k12.or.us/article/2214181
Former National Park Service Director Chuck Sams recently spoke to middle school students in Pendleton about the nation's parks and their importance: https://eastoregonian.com/2025/05/03/chuck-sams-visits-pendleton-middle-schoolers-to-celebrate-national-parks/
On May 6th, Literacy Consultant Yolanda Westerberg traveled to Ukiah, Oregon, to provide customized reading and writing training to teachers on site. Three teachers received instruction that included the modeling of high-leverage literacy strategies designed to increase student engagement and writing performance. Teachers also worked together to create a yearlong scope and sequence anchored to priority standards they identified as a team. At the end of the day, teachers walked away with a toolkit of strategies to support students’ literacy development paired with a plan for execution.
Yolanda Westerberg is a literacy consultant with decades of teaching and consultation experience with Westerberg & Associates. Westerberg hails from Spokane, Washington, but regularly visits school districts in the IMESD region to deliver training as part of her contract with the Oregon Trail Regional Educator Network and House Bill 3499 Funding. The Oregon Trail REN funds series-based professional learning for educators in Umatilla, Morrow, Baker, and Union counties. While some training opportunities for educators function as one-offs, providing only one session of learning for educators, Westerberg’s trainings are ongoing and series-based, enabling teachers to build on their learning and receive training customized to their evolving needs. To eliminate the barrier of access, Westerberg travels to districts to deliver her support on site.
For more information about IMESD/REN hosted professional development, please contact Emily Williams at emily.williams@imesd.k12.or.us.
Join the Regional Educator Network and IMESD for Summer Series! Sign up to attend a variety of FREE sessions during the last 2 weeks of June and/or the first two weeks of August. Sessions for classroom management, literacy, arts & culture, math, multilingual learners, and more will be available!
Visit the IMESD Events Calendar to register for sessions: https://events.imesd.k12.or.us/
School librarians across the region came together on Thursday, April 10th to attend the second annual Regional Library Symposium.
This gathering offers school library staff the opportunity to connect with one another, learn from each other, and take home new skills or ideas to use in their own libraries. Read the full Story: https://www.imesd.k12.or.us/article/2160207
At the end of March, IMESD’s Marissa Loiland, Early Learning Services Director, testified virtually to the Oregon Legislature about Senate Bill 1167. This bill would direct $12 million to early childhood programs across the state to pay for navigators to help expecting parents connect with social service programs. Eastern Oregon could claim a large part of the funding through the Blue Mountain Early Learning Hub, which Loiland oversees.
"Being able to provide information to the Oregon Legislature was a great opportunity to highlight specific issues in rural communities in our state regarding services. With many miles to cover, navigators could make a difference in helping families connect with appropriate programs,” Loiland said.
Come work at IMESD! We are now hiring for a Helpdesk Support Collections Specialist. Check our job description and apply today.
http://applitrack.com/imesd/onlineapp/default.aspx?all=1&AppliTrackPostingSearch=title%3Acollections%20&AppliTrackZipRadius=5&AppliTrackSort=type&AppliTrackLayoutMode=detail
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation has received a $150,000 grant to support literacy. CTUIR will collaborate with IMESD's Early Learning Hub for training needs for the project.
Read the article: https://tinyurl.com/3zx6c73d
Apply now to our Technology Specialist position! In this position, Technology Specialists support students and school district staff with different technology-based tasks day by day. This position is based in Irrigon, OR.
Position Details: https://www.applitrack.com/imesd/onlineapp/default.aspx?all=1&AppliTrackPostingSearch=title%3Atechnology%20&AppliTrackZipRadius=5&AppliTrackSort=type&AppliTrackLayoutMode=detail
Echo School District freshman Kellan Smith recently won a major title at the Oregon State FFA Convention in March: https://tinyurl.com/782khmvt
IMESD's Chief Information Officer, Nick Lapp, recently provided a statement about the importance of the Universal Service Fund, which provides funding to school districts for internet access and network connectivity through E-rate. This is an issue the Supreme Court of the United States heard arguments about last month.
“Bringing fiber internet to ten small rural districts in Eastern Oregon to replace slow and unreliable wireless connections simply wouldn't have been possible without E-rate funding. This investment has opened previously unimaginable educational opportunities for children in these communities, profoundly impacting their future," Lapp said.
Read the entire article: https://www.imesd.k12.or.us/article/2139114
Umatilla School District middle school students compete in robotics: https://tinyurl.com/u5ru6wpb
Michele Madril and Xenia Velasco from our Communications team attended the Oregon School Public Relations Conference in March. It is an annual gathering for public relations professionals serving Oregon schools and school districts. They were joined by staff from the La Grande and Umatilla school districts.
This year, Velasco was awarded “Oregon’s Best” in the Publications and Digital Media Category for communications teams consisting of one or two individuals. Congratulations!
Read the full story: https://www.imesd.k12.or.us/article/2126785
K-12 regional counselors attended the final training for the 2024-2025 Counselor Connection Series on March 19, 2025. Read the article here: https://lagrandeobserver.com/2025/04/01/development-program-for-eastern-oregon-school-counselors-wraps-up-for-2025-26/
The Oregon School Boards Association has named IMESD Superintendent Dr. Mark Mulvihill as the state’s first part-time regional contractor for school board training activities. In this role, Mulvihill’s primary goal will be to support the development of community members who are currently serving on local school boards.
“Mark is well known for his expertise in governance and what the board does,” said Kristen Miles, OSBA’s Director of Board Development. “He’s well respected all over the state and has been working with boards for a long time. He knows the issues and really knows the communities.”
Read the full story: https://www.osba.org/osba-engages-intermountain-superintendent-as-first-part-time-regional-school-board-trainer/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJX9ZVleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHVUPSwyGNwTQ-OF3DMicOGZgSrO6J0_FrDGcEvTchfyHqRsHds8I_YblZg_aem_68oQGglLGmEQxf9FeymxBw
Multiple departments & programs of IMESD participated in an In-Service Day on Friday, March 7th. The intention was to provide time for employees to gain professional development/training in their specific area of work.
Read the article & view photos: https://www.imesd.k12.or.us/article/2099870
All IMESD Offices will be CLOSED Monday, March 24th through Friday, March 28th for Spring Break. We will re-open on Monday, March 31st.
Have a safe and fun Spring Break!
IMESD is celebrating CareerTechnical Education (CTE) by spotlighting educators in our region who are making a difference for students in CTE classes and pathways.
Meet Teresa Veach, Math & Business Teacher at Ukiah School: https://www.imesd.k12.or.us/article/2092379
Do you know an employee of IMESD or in one of our component school districts who is going the extra mile for students? Nominate them for a 2025 Crystal Apple Award!
All employees of IMESD or any of our districts are eligible – teachers, paraeducators, office staff, cafeteria staff, etc.
Anyone can nominate at this link: https://forms.imesd.k12.or.us/crystal_apple_nomination_form
DEADLINE to nominate is April 1, 2025.
For more information about Crystal Apple Awards visit: https://www.imesd.k12.or.us/page/crystal-apple-awards
