New proposals in the Oregon Senate focus on easing educator shortage. Learn more here.

Original article by NATALIE PATE

Schools nationwide and across Oregon have been facing educator shortages for years, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oregon lawmakers are considering bills this session they believe will address the problem’s root causes. Among them are Senate Bill 279, which would make it easier and less cost-prohibitive for teachers from other states to work in Oregon, and Senate Bill 283, an omnibus bill that would tackle retention, pay and several aspects of educator recruitment and hiring practices.

Lawmakers said these bills would address staff and substitute shortages,…

Bend High School has been awarded a large grant from the American Welding Society. Learn more here.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend Senior High School has been awarded a $24,510 grant from the American Welding Society to upgrade its welding program and give students the opportunity to earn an entry-level, Level 1 welder certification while still in high school.

“We are really excited, since this will allow us to provide our students hands-on experience with the tools and equipment that are being used in the workplace right now, and create a pipeline for local businesses who desperately need these trade professionals,” instructor Chuck Hill said.

The funds were provided through the AWS Foundation as part of a nationally competitive…

English, science and math proficiency scores in Oregon dropped dramatically since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s according to numbers released by the Oregon Department of Education Thursday morning looking at state assessment results.

School districts in Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties did not buck the trend. Some were able to note achievements in specific categories and even, in some cases, finishing above state averages.

Oregon Department of Education officials say 2022 testing shows students who were already behind before the pandemic had the most learning loss but all children overall lost ground when compared to 2019 test scores.

Students at R.E. Jewel Elementary will learn about solar energy and build their own solar-powered cars! Find out more here.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — On Friday, fifth-graders at R.E. Jewell Elementary School in southeast Bend will take a deep dive lesson into solar energy, learn about how it’s generated and get to build their own solar-powered cars as part of a celebration of the school’s new grant-funded solar array.

The solar array is expected to produce 56 megawatt hours of electricity annually and is on the roof of the school’s new multi-purpose building, funded by the 2017 construction bond.

“I’m excited to walk students through how solar panels work and check out the monitoring system so students can…

The Pacific Power Foundation is donating more than 300K for education and STEM learning. Find out more here.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Research shows that learning happens best when social, emotional and cognitive growth are connected. High-quality, evidence-based programs are also critical to positive academic outcomes, better attendance and improved graduation rates.

That’s why Pacific Power puts funding and resources behind schools and organizations that work toward these goals and open the doors of opportunity for learners of all ages.

The Pacific Power Foundation, a nonprofit arm of Pacific Power, is donating more than $300,000 in new grant funding across the three states it serves to support organizations that provide education and STEM learning opportunities. From financial literacy classes and early educational intervention programs to…

Desert Sky Montessori has received On Point Community Credit Union’s Community Builder Award. Learn more here.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As the 13th annual OnPoint Prize for Excellence in Education campaign continues, OnPoint Community Credit Union announced Tuesday the five schools. including Bend’s Desert Sky Montessori, that have won this year’s Community Builder awards. The winning schools will receive up to $5,000 for a special project that positively impacts their school and community.

OnPoint also announced today the six finalists for the Educator of the Year awards. Three winning teachers (one representing grades K-5, 6-8 and 9-12) will have their mortgage or rent paid for one full year and receive $2,500 for each of their schools. The three runners up (one…

Katherine Holden, assistant principal of Ashland Middle School, has been named the national assistant principal of the year in recognition of how she helped creatively and cheerfully guide her school through the aftermath of 2020′s home-destroying wildfires.

Holden said in a statement that she considers it “my mission to do everything I can to create a school environment where students feel safe and staff feel supported so they can be their best and have fun teaching and learning.”

“As…

PORTLAND — Dr. Robin Holmes-Sullivan will be the first woman and first Black person to become president of Lewis & Clark College in the school’s 155-year history.

She will step into the role in July after president Wim Wiewel retires, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.

Holmes-Sullivan is currently vice president for student life and dean of students at Lewis & Clark, a private liberal arts college in Portland.

“It’s obviously something that is going to be, and is, very meaningful…