Proud To Be NCSD: Recent Episodes
Proud To Be NCSD
The North Clackamas School District serves more than 16,000 students in 30+ schools. These are the stories of students, teachers, administrators, support staff, and community members who make our district special.
In this episode, meet our district's Director of Transportation, Kathy Calkins. Every morning and afternoon, the perpetually positive leader is always right out front of the Transportation hub, calling every driver by name and waving them off with a smile and lots of encouragement. Now she's getting a little name recognition of her own…recently named the nationwide 2026 Administrator of the Year by School Bus Fleet Magazine! In this enlightening episode, hear why her positivity never seems to hit the brakes!
Why were Clackamas and Rex Putnam basketball players and fans rooting for each other earlier this month? In this episode, learn how Unified Basketball brings together student athletes with and without intellectual disabilities and proves it’s less about points on the scoreboard…and much more about encouragement, opportunity, and inclusion. It’s heartwarming hoops talk with Unified coaches Brandon Beckwith of RPHS and Josh Murray of CHS, along with insights from student athletes who love all the hoops hype they receive from their biggest fans- classmates, staff members, and family.
When it comes to career paths, NCSD educators are often empowered to take a leap of faith: Some may choose to switch classroom locations, switch grade levels, or even switch to different schools throughout their career. But in this episode, we meet several teachers who took perhaps the biggest leap of faith possible—they switched to totally new careers by choosing to teach in our district. Meet the culinary chef who now stirs up student excitement at Sabin Schellenberg (Shadow CdeBaca), the former pastry pro who never allows Alder Creek students to have a crumb-y day (Andy McAlister), and three Riverside Elementary teachers who all traded in memos for math lessons (Deena Nakata, Natalie Arias, Chris Stamm).
With the school year now in its third month and Parent-Teacher Conferences approaching, it must mean that all NCSD teachers and support staff can simply follow their lesson plans and everything moves along on Cloud Nine, right? Wrong. Many factors, including student behavior outbursts, can quickly turn Cloud Nine into a perfect storm of classroom disruptions that can frustrate teachers and hinder learning. In this episode, district Behavior Team members Sarah Sadd and Kacy Lentz join national expert Dr. Sharon Azar with insights about how students use behavior as a communication tool, and how our district supports students and staff to manage challenging school behavior with compassion and care.
In this inspiring debut episode of Season #4, we track down Superintendent Dr. Shay James as she wraps up her districtwide tour of every NCSD school within the first six weeks of the year. Joined by Assistant Superintendent Dr. Ivonne Dibblee and Executive Director of Teaching & Learning Tammy O’Neill, Dr. James details what impressed her the most during her visits, especially when it comes to how NCSD teachers are consistently structuring their lesson plans. Meanwhile, Dr. Dibblee takes a “STOIC” approach to the impressive way teachers are engaging with students, and Director O’Neill shares inspirational stories about how NCSD staff are reshaping student behavior through daily doses of positivity.
In 1924-25, the world surrounding the North Clackamas School District looked very different. In fact, NCSD itself wouldn’t exist for nearly another 50 years. Homes didn’t have microwaves, refrigerators, or even bathrooms. But that same year, a brand-new school opened in Milwaukie, becoming a cornerstone of local education that still welcomes smiling students and staff members (in a beautiful new building) every day! This year marks the 100th birthday of our own Ardenwald Elementary, and this episode takes a unique approach to celebrating this historic milestone as current students take over hosting duties and interview former Ardenwald alumni from the 2000s…all the way back to the 1960s!
Ask anyone who works in the wonderful world of kindergarten, and it’s no secret that teaching reading and vocabulary to a lively group of feisty five- and six-year-olds is certainly rewarding, but never easy! Especially with varied learning levels in classroom, how do teachers make sure ALL students understand new words and how to incorporate them into conversations? The answer: a structured and scheduled part of every NCSD kindergarten day called “Language For All (LFA),” which includes kids playing pretend roles in scenarios as they use new vocabulary. In this episode, meet NCSD kindergarten teachers Kristin Blaine (Oregon Trail), Kapo Chan (Cannady), and Summer Smith (Sunnyside), along with Sunnyside ELD teacher Katie Lynn and district consultant Erin Moulton, who explain why kids’ favorite part of the day includes “Play During LFA.”
Admittedly, sometimes NCSD students spend more time talking in class than working on assignments. But what about those students who have all the words in their head, but can’t quite get them to sound correctly? That’s where our amazing NCSD Speech & Language Pathologists come in! in this episode, we hear the voices of five NCSD SLPs: Stephanie Gaslin (Milwaukie High), Ambyr Henderson (Spring Mountain), Katie Lee (Linwood, Sojourner), Malory Manderfield (Oak Grove), and Heather Tomsky (Cannady), who share about their unique profession and why they love to teach…all about speech.
There’s quite a buzz happening each week in our Sabin-Schellenberg’s Cosmetology program, and it’s not just the electric clippers snipping the final touches on a perfect haircut. Fridays in February are Client Days, when NCSD community members make appointments with Cosmetology students getting hands-on training in haircuts to highlights and perms to pedicures. In this episode, we make an appointment with Cosmetology’s lead instructor Jeri Davis, who says 20+ years of helping students pursue their passions post high school never goes out of style.
Forget pressure-packed athletic events or attending first prom dances, many NCSD students say their stomachs start to churn most when facing their first-ever job interview. But thanks to unique College & Career courses required for 9th and 11th graders, NCSD students are more confident than ever answering tough interview questions and planning for careers after high school. In this episode, we dust off our resume and visit with NCSD College & Career teacher Aaron Hazel, along with Kim Amador and Brittanie Strutz- two Teachers-On-Special-Assignment who have helped develop this hands-on curriculum that has students researching college and potential career paths, perfecting resumes, and of course, mastering the job interview.
If you know any young readers, you’ll want to keep sliding your tray along into this week’s episode! Our story begins once upon a time in the Oak Grove Elementary library, where staff can’t seem to keep up with orders for Lunch Lady, a set of popular graphic novels in which the school Lunch Lady solves captivating cafeteria capers. That’s until NCSD Nutrition Services managers Kris DeHut and Raimi Kaan said “Hold Your Horseradish!” to the Oak Grove book shortage—donating an entire set of books to the school and providing a cooking demonstration for students dressed as the Lunch Lady herself! Pass the condiments, as you’ll relish the chance to find out more behind-the-scenes information about NCSD’s Nutrition Services Department!
You may hear music in a mall or snow projections in a weather report, but the first true signs of winter in NCSD are heard in all of our high school gyms, in pools, and on the wrestling mats. December means the tip-off of the Winter athletic season! Ever wondered who hires all the coaches, arranges the busses, and schedules all the practice and game times? It’s our four high school Athletic Directors! In this episode, we whistle Tom Moore (MHS/MAA), Tricia Halonen (RPHS), John Arntson (CHS), and Dana Cappelucci (ANHS) into the studio to share the joys and challenges of their unique job, how they build relationships with their student athletes and coaches, and perhaps most importantly, what’s it’s like to see their students using skills learned in athletics…way beyond high school.
Sure, you might see them outside the front doors in the morning greeting families…or roaming the hallways throughout the day checking in with students…but have you ever wondered what a day in the life of an NCSD principal really looks and sounds like? In this episode, host Curtis Long keeps the microphones rolling as he spends an entire Friday as the substitute principal at Spring Mountain Elementary School. Can he calm the crabby kindergartner visiting his office? How about settle a squabble on the playground between frustrated fourth graders? And what happens when he’s suddenly put in charge of leading a schoolwide assembly first thing in the morning?
If your family has a student older than second grade, you likely know about the annual Oregon State Assessments administered to students across the state each spring in English/Language Arts and Math. Although results are down statewide, NCSD’s Rowe Middle School is one of the only middle schools in Oregon where students showed growth in both English/Language Arts and Math at all three grade levels for three straight years. In this episode, we give a special Shamrock shoutout to the Rowe students and staff, and learn from Principal Emily Moore, Instructional Coach Jen Martin, and 8th grade Language Arts teacher Coco Vernon how a dedicated staff…plus resilient students…equals sustained success that has a whole school community believing that anything is achievable!
Since Oregon state policy says students need to be five years old before entering public kindergarten, none of our schools in North Clackamas enroll students younger than that, right? Well, not exactly…did you know that in one NCSD elementary school, you’ll find one colorful classroom where thriving three- and four-year-olds playfully paint, sing, and even snooze as they learn to be a part of a classroom community? In this episode, we sit down (in tiny chairs) with “Ms. Melinda” at Oak Grove Elementary, who teaches NCSD’s only preschool classroom. You’ll hear both the silly…and the serious sounds of preschool…and why Melinda Hayward says she wouldn’t want to teach anywhere else!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
Since launching nearly two years ago, we've featured some very special guests…from NCSD’s Superintendent to extraordinary teachers and students who have captivated us with amazing stories from their school communities. This week, we take a very unique approach to celebrate the podcast’s 40th episode...as three students from the Rowe Middle School Podcast Network (8th graders Jose-Angel Barraza, Kenadi Hammond, and Hayden Moreland) take over as hosts and interview Mr. Long before he gets a chance to interview them. They uncover little-known facts about Mr. Long, then explain the ups and downs of middle school life as high school quickly approaches.
When our students face changes and challenges both inside and outside school walls, where can they turn to confess their concerns, discuss their doubts, and shout out their successes? NCSD school counselors are always there to make sure ALL students feel seen, supported, and most importantly, celebrated for who they are. In this episode, it’s a conversation full of compassion as we’re joined by a school counselor from each level: Clackamas High School’s Laura Nelson, Alder Creek Middle School’s Stephanie Atkinson, and Scouters Mountain Elementary’s Jessica Winfrey. Together, they explain how they help meet student and family needs by lending advice, a helping hand, or sometimes, simply a listening ear.
Although January is Oregon School Board Recognition Month, a certain ice storm put the freeze on our first try at coordinating calendars to record this appreciative podcast. Now that the ice has melted away, we’ve made a new motion to honor the seven superheroes who tirelessly volunteer on our NCSD Board. In this episode, get to know two of our newest Directors, April Dobson and Paul Kemp, as we call to order topics ranging from why they chose to run for such an important role…to the unfinished business they continually advocate for on behalf of all North Clackamas students and families.
As the first round of final exams wraps up in NCSD high schools, we shine the spotlight on three amazing Rex Putnam High School students whose journey through NCSD schools has looked (and sounded) a little different than most of their peers. These high-achieving high schoolers have been a part of the district’s Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program since elementary school, meaning they’ve spent parts of their days learning in English…and the other parts 100% in Spanish. This week, meet seniors Sebastian Castillo-Graduno and Leslie Osorio Martinez, along with sophomore Dahlia Sanchez Martinez, who share how growing up in NCSD’s DLI program has not only helped them develop bilingual skills, but also develop lifelong friendships that even resulted in the formation of a successful local band!
Students’ first years in elementary school can bring them their first best friend, and of course their first favorite teacher. But for one Scouters Mountain Elementary student, fifth grade started with a not-so-pleasant first experience for him— being teased on the playground by classmates he considered his friends. This week, hear the incredible story of 10-year-old Makiah Butler, who not only forgave the teasers, but took the negative emotions he felt and turned them into a positive…by starting a schoolwide recognition program awarding kids for being “Upstanders,” and motivating an entire school to break down bullying before it begins.
When discussing extracurricular activities in our North Clackamas high schools, the conversation often turns to athletics. But what about the hundreds of high schoolers who spend countless hours before and after school practicing an instrument, singing in choirs, or like this week’s special guests, creating costumes and memorizing lines for an unforgettable drama performance? This week, meet Nelson High School sophomore Melly DaMetz, junior Tyson Thames, and junior Emily Sutliff…three lively leaders of the school’s latest stage production, “Alice In Wonderland.” We go behind-the-scenes to learn what it takes to bring the famous children’s story to life, especially when your school currently doesn’t offer any drama classes during the school day.
For more than three decades, the North Clackamas Education Foundation has been serving NCSD through teacher grants, scholarships, gifts to after-school and pre-K programs, services for food-insecure families, and so much more. In the past year alone, members of this amazing foundation funded more than $227,000 to students, teachers, and families. How do they do it? In this episode, we meet two of NCEF’s “heartest” workers – Executive Director Stephanie Rose and Communications Coordinator Sam Hobson. Learn why giving back to the NCSD community is so important to them, and hear from students excitedly putting a recent grant to good use!
With the first eight weeks of the school year now in the books, it seems likely that NCSD’s elementary students have chosen a favorite subject they love learning most about each day…but you may be surprised at the overwhelming answer! Recess? TAG- not it! Social Studies? That’s history! These days, NCSD elementary students are falling head over highlighters for writing time! In this episode, we learn why students can’t wait to put their pencils to paper, thanks to some energizing professional development for teachers and NCSD author-ities like Mt. Scott 3rd grade teacher Liz Maxwell, Oak Grove 1st grade teacher Rachel Wong, Emergent Literacy Specialist Kari Tunstill, and Early Learning Coordinator Jen Burkhart.
Converted from a neighborhood elementary school nearly 13 years ago, NCSD’s Wichita Center For Family & Community offers district families access to resources including dental screenings, employment training, preschool, mental health support, a food pantry, and a clothes closet…all under one roof. Yet perhaps the center’s most important offering—hope for a better future. In this episode, meet three of the special staff members who help manage this one-of-a-kind community hub, Natalie Whisler, Jen Kiltow, and the person who knows and greets every visitor by name, Claudia Milena.
Season #2 kicks off the school year visiting with our district’s top leader, Superintendent Dr. Shay James, who helps introduce us to members of our amazing Student & Community Engagement team, dedicated to making sure students and families from all cultures feel safe, welcome, and celebrated in each of our district’s 32 schools. In this episode, hear incredible insights from three of NCSD’s Student & Community Engagement Specialists, Cheryl Shane, Raquel De Jesus-Mendoza, and Ed Villa, along with their recently named Director, Dr. Khaliyah Williams-Rodriguez.
Media reports say that teen suicides have risen nearly 30% in the past decade, but the stories of lives saved rarely make headlines. Neither do the powerful prevention efforts of teenagers featured in this episode: Adrienne C. Nelson High’s Imani Lewis, Delanie Woolcock, and Natalie Sangasy are charter members of a new peer leadership group called Sources Of Strength, and take time out of their lunch break each week to host wellness activities and make sure students who feel they have no way out…always have an “in” with classmates who care about them.
Although his official role at Rowe Middle School is Media Arts & Journalism teacher, Lucas Dix’s unofficial Shamrock title could be School Culture Champion. In this episode meet the energetic teacher who not only leads a team of school reporters to produce weekly “Shamrock News” videos, but also created the school’s writing magazine, invented the One Million Word Club to encourage student reading, and revitalized the school’s cross-country and track teams. Oh, and did we mention he raps in viral school music videos?
Who can NCSD teachers and families count on to make sure students with physical challenges can participate in all the same activities as their peers? That’s when our district’s amazing Occupational and Physical Therapists move in! In this episode, we catch up with members of NCSD’s “Motor Team” – Rose Brenner, Morgan Garner, Lisa Kline, and Nicole Nix. These positive professionals keep students on the move, whether perfecting primary pencil placement, pivoting padlocks, or even helping students in wheelchairs stand up and sing!
North Clackamas schools welcome nearly 17,000 students through their front doors each morning, including hundreds of students with special needs stemming from Autism Spectrum Disorder. How do NCSD staff members ensure students displaying autistic characteristics feel welcome, excited, and inspired in each of our schools? That’s where this week's guests come in! Meet NCSD’s Autism/Behavior Specialists Genoa Hillis, Julia Hunter, and Amy Nielsen, who spend their days criss-crossing the district teaming with teachers, problem-solving with paraeducators, and, most importantly, inspiring all students to feel proud of how special they are.
Perhaps you’ve heard of the War Of The Roses, the Clash Of The Titans, and even the Attack Of The Clones…but have you ever heard of the Oregon Battle Of The Books? These fabulous fifth graders from Riverside Elementary sure have! They recently outperformed schools across the state in the fast-paced question-and-answer reading comprehension game and advanced all the way to the state finals! In this episode, we learn how “The Bookworms” challenged themselves chapter by chapter in 15 different books to become the only NCSD team…and the first ever from Riverside…to earn statewide recognition as reading rulers!
It may sound strange, but some of NCSD’s elementary and middle school students would be upset if they didn’t get to stay after school each day. That’s because they love being a part of our district’s amazing after-school programs, offered to families who need affordable after-school care options. In this episode, we learn this is far from any “babysitting.” NCSD’s Director of Community Services Natalie Whisler, 21st Century Community Learning Center Program Manager Amber Barnes, and Boys & Girls Club Senior Director Rob Johnson tell us about these safe and structured programs offered at many district elementary and middle schools, and why students can’t wait to get there after school!
Did you know that in several K-12 classrooms throughout our school district, students may learn from their teacher one moment in English, but the next moment in Spanish? These amazing classrooms are part of NCSD’s Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program. This week’s podcast is the first-ever bilingual edition, as we learn in both English and Spanish about DLI classrooms from the tremendously talented teachers themselves: Lot Whitcomb Elementary’s Soltsinansy Hernandez Contreras, Veronica Alvarado, Melissa Sotelo Lopez, Miguel Ortiz, and Rex Putnam High School’s Jackson Doty.
Before dribbling off to Spring Break, we posted up a preview of our conversation with three key members of the recently crowned OSAA girls basketball state champions, the Clackamas Cavaliers. With March Madness now in the rearview mirror, this episode bounces back with Part 2 of our chat with the champs, where CHS coach Korey Landolt, along with the team’s two seniors, Rhyan Mogel and Eliza Buerk,hold court about their favorite memories of a season that ended with the school’s first-ever state championship basketball trophy.
Just days before Spring Break tips off across the school district, we jump back less than two weeks ago to the OSAA State Girls Basketball Championship, where the Clackamas Cavaliers capped off an incredible season by winning the school’s first ever girls basketball state title. In this pre-Spring Break preview episode, we sit down for Part 1 of our conversation with CHS coach Korey Landolt, along with the team’s two seniors, Rhyan Mogel and Eliza Buerk.
Aside from creating engaging lesson plans for every subject, our elementary school teachers—particularly those in kindergarten, first, and second grade—take on perhaps the most challenging task a teacher can face…teaching kids to read. That’s where this week’s guests on the “Proud To Be NCSD” podcast come in! This week, we get down and wordy with NCSD’s Emergent Literacy Specialists Nadia Boria, Jaime Clarke, and Kari Tunstill, who constantly research, model, and support successful reading strategies and work side by side with NCSD’s kindergarten, first, and second grade teachers.
As we’ve learned throughout these past winter months and even in March, extreme weather incidents can quickly escalate into NCSD calling for two-hour delays or cancellation of school days. Whether the announcement comes before sunrise or late in the afternoon, each decision impacts every NCSD family’s daily routine and is never taken lightly. In this episode, we turn to NCSD Transportation Director Kathy Calkins, Associate Directors James Prichard and Cheryl Crosgrove, along with Assistant Superintendent Cindy Detchon to answer all the community questions that seem to heat up whenever the weather outside turns freezing cold.
Just before a record-breaking snowfall hit our area last week, a record- breaking field trip took place in our school district! More than 1,400 NCSD high school juniors hopped on buses for downtown Portland’s Convention Center to participate in the Northwest Youth Careers Expo, and this episode 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.
This week marks the middle of February, which means we’re also right in the middle of celebrating Black History Month in our school district. And while a 34-minute podcast doesn’t allow us to recognize all of the amazing Black educators making a difference in the lives of kids in NCSD, this week’s episode takes us to Milwaukie High School, where we meet three inspirational Mustang mentors. Hear the uplifting ways Craig Sneed, Tim Price, and Terrell “Kiki” Ayo dedicate each day to advocating for students of color in the hallways, in the classroom, and even on the basketball court, tennis court, and football field!
Did you know that NCSD has a professionally staffed medical center inside Milwaukie, Rex Putnam, Clackamas, and Adrienne C. Nelson High Schools? They’re called School Based Health Centers, and did you know that they’re not just for high school students and families…and they can be accessed regardless of insurance coverage? In this eye-opening episode, we learn from a combined nine North Clackamas employees and district partners about these remarkable resources located right down the hallway: Lilly Hankins (ANHS), Jenn Lucas (RPHS & CHS), Sienna Day (MHS), Max Penneck (MHS), Natalie Portis (RPHS), Claire Davis-Thran (NCSD Nurse), Barnaby Gloger (NCSD Student & Family Services), Tami Gilbertson (Clackamas County), and Ben DeGiulio (Clackamas County).
Looking for a job that’s near? Can you bring kids cheer? Or maybe even check a rearview mirror? We just might have your next career! In this informative episode, we make it our job to help you learn about all the employment opportunities available right now in North Clackamas…and who better to answer our interview questions than NCSD’s Associate Human Resources Director Dr. Keylah Boyer, Transportation Director Kathy Calkins, Human Resources Recruiter Mia Tran, and Transportation Recruiter Shannon McGinness.
During a typical school week, you’ll find many NCSD teachers meeting together in a colleague’s classroom long before the first bell assessing student work or collaborating on lesson plans…but what if staff members met before 6:00 a.m. three times a week not in a classroom, but on a district soccer field or basketball court? And they’ve been having a ball for the past 20+ years! In this week’s fast breaking episode, we catch up with Brian Sien (Clackamas Middle College), Brad Linn (Clackamas Web Academy), Matt Prenger (Milwaukie High School), and John Telesmanich (Putnam High School). These fouling friends first met each other as colleagues more than two decades ago…and the games still continue with more NCSD employees before the crack of dawn on the court or the field to talk teaching…and a little trash!
Some teachers started their careers in NCSD because they were attracted to our well-known reputation of providing a family atmosphere among all staff. Then there are those who’ve taken “family atmosphere” to a whole new level! In this “All In The Family” edition of the “Proud To Be NCSD” podcast, we meet two mother-son dynamic duos, with Lot Whitcomb’s Shaun Martinez and Bilquist’s Jennifer Oleson, who both started teaching in NCSD 20+ years ago…and now their sons Alec Martinez (Cannady) and Nickoli Oleson (Bilquist) are following in mom’s footsteps…maybe even across the hall!
January is Oregon School Board Recognition Month, and in this episode, we make a motion to honor the seven superheroes who tirelessly volunteer on our NCSD Board. In candid conversations with Directors Mitzi Bauer and Jena Benologa, we call to order topics ranging from why they voted to run for such a vital district role…to the unfinished business they continually advocate for on behalf of all North Clackamas students and families.
When television shows like The Golden Girls and Miami Vice were just getting started, so were the careers of these four guests! In this most excellent episode of the “Proud To Be NCSD” podcast, we share lots of insights (and lots of laughs) with NCSD veteran teachers Chuck Nott (Sabin-Schellenberg), Christy Bunker (Clackamas High), Jeff Schroeder (Sunnyside Elementary), and Carol York (Rock Creek Middle), who have racked up a combined 98 years of service in NCSD!
While many of our 16,000+ North Clackamas students will spend the upcoming Winter Break celebrating with loved ones inside warm homes, some are worrying about where they’ll lay their heads down to sleep tonight. Those are the students NCSD’s Katie Ray advocates for each day. In this inspiring episode, learn how our district’s Homeless Student & Family Liaison works tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure our students and families experiencing insecurities in housing, clothing, or food have the resources they need to stay afloat…so kids stay in school.
They may not wear capes or leap over tall buildings, but our guests this week are truly superheroes when it comes to keeping our 16,000+ students healthy with smiles on their faces. In this heartwarming episode, we visit with seven of our Heroes of the Health Room…the NCSD Nurses Team. Whether they’re monitoring student health conditions, administering advanced medical care, supporting schools with student health records, or many other health-related tasks, it truly takes superpowers to keep up with these cool caretakers on a school day!
Who do we call when support staff's or teachers’ tummies turn troublesome? We are SO thankful for our super substitutes, who often fill in at a moment’s notice to help make sure the day goes as smoothly as possible for our students and staff. In this appreciative episode, we check in with two of our district’s trusty substitute teachers, Andrea Glasgow and Austin McCarville, who share why substitute teaching is more “heart” work than hard work. Plus, we get a special visit from NCSD Human Resources Directors Alma Morales Galicia and Keylah Boyer, who describe details about substitute qualifications, where we’re hiring, and how YOU can apply today!
Although Campbell Elementary School hasn’t been utilized as an NCSD school since 2011, hundreds of future students and families visit the site every school year! It's now our district's Early Childhood Evaluation Center, welcoming many 0-5-year-olds each day. In this lively episode, we visit with the inspirational staff of the unique center, who evaluate and ensure support systems are in place for our youngest students with special needs long before their first day of kindergarten.
During this Veterans Day week, we salute all veterans across the United States and especially those working within our own district, like NCSD’s own Greg Neuman, Rowe Middle School principal and Army veteran, along with Yvette Lightbourn, program administrator in our Teaching, Learning, & Professional Development Department and veteran of the Air Force. Greg and Yvette share what Veterans Day means to them and how they’re always moved by the celebrations taking place in many NCSD schools. They also share what it was like for both of them to join the armed forces just days after graduating from high school, where their journeys led them worldwide, and how lessons learned during their service time still influence their school leadership today.
No disrespect to our previous NCSD guests, but we have our BIGGEST celebrity yet on this week’s episode! This week, we visit with Isabella Ellsworth, the recently crowned Miss Oregon Teen USA and senior at Adrienne C. Nelson High School. Isabella and her mom Kristen describe how life has turned upside down since the big announcement, but it hasn’t slowed down Isabella’s busy schedule that includes college-prep courses, varsity athletic participation, community service projects, and, of course, cheering her lungs out Friday nights in the front row of Nelson’s football stadium!
For the second consecutive year, one of Oregon’s Regional Teachers of the Year teaches right here in North Clackamas! This week, we’re visiting with the delightful Ron Antlitz, who teaches 6th, 7th, and 8th graders in the Transitional Learning Center at Alder Creek Middle School. As you listen, it won’t take long to realize why Mr. Antlitz is so beloved by his students and colleagues, as he inspires kids to overcome learning disabilities through unwavering boosts of self-confidence and self-esteem.
For the first time this school year, the Proud To Be NCSD Podcast moves out of the studio and into school classrooms…but not just any rooms! In this episode, we’re talking about all the excitement…and exhaustion…that comes with teaching fantastic, frenetic, filterless five-year-olds during the first six weeks of school. Curtis sits down after school with the ever-energetic kindergarten team at Beatrice Morrow Cannady Elementary: Angela Nelson, Anna Tsoi, and Karen Griswold.
It’s National School Lunch Week, and that means we’re celebrating the unsung heroes of our school cafeterias who prepare and serve more than 12,000 meals every school day for North Clackamas students. In this tasty episode of the Proud To Be NCSD Podcast, Curtis sits down with NCSD Nutrition Services Operations Manager Greg Collins and Culinary Manager Kris DeHut, who dish up lots of little-known details about which flavorsome foods make it onto our kids’ lunch trays…and which don’t.
They're words that students, staff members, and especially family members NEVER want to hear…There's an emergency at one of our NCSD schools.
As you'll hear inthis episode, one of our North Clackamas high schools recently went into Lockdown…and while nobody was hurt and the event ended without any incident…we want to make sure our community members know first, how serious we take these scary situations, and second, what measures are in place to fulfill our number one priority in all North Clackamas Schools—keeping your kids safe.
Curtis sits down with NCSD Chief Of Staff Tiffany Shireman, Assistant Superintendent of Operations Cindy Detchon, and Security & Emergency Management Specialist Robert Blake.
In North Clackamas, you know her name, and you know her face...but who is the always calm Dr. Shay James guiding our district's 2,100+ employees? In Episode #1 of the Proud To Be NCSD Podcast, we learn that there’s no such thing as a “typical” day for our superintendent, and how memories of her first years as a middle school teacher still bring a smile to her face. Now that she’s been on the job for about 15 months, find out what gives her the most pride about our North Clackamas staff…and why she’s excited about the future ahead of our district!