IMESD and some of its districts were pleased to welcome Dr. Charlene Williams, Deputy Superintendent of the Oregon Department of Education, to eastern Oregon December 11-13. While in the region, Williams visited multiple school districts that IMESD serves.
She visited Umatilla School District and their robotics program and toured Stanfield School District’s facilities and heard high school success stories there. She also spent time at the Pendleton Early Learning Center, greeting kindergartners during lunch and in a Umatilla Language class and learned about other early learning programs and family services at the PELC. Another highlight was a visit to the Pendleton Children’s Center.
During her tour of the PELC, Williams said, “There is so much life in these halls. It’s a powerful and inspirational sign of the commitment to early learning here in this region.”
Other districts she visited were Athena-Weston, Milton-Freewater Unified and Nixyaawii Community School.
Williams also sat in on a meeting of the Oregon Trail REN (Regional Educator Network) at the IMESD Pendleton Headquarters, where staff reviewed some of the initiatives they do to support teachers, administrators and instructional strategies. Williams said her takeaway regarding the REN was the Principal Mentoring program, which supports new administrators.
Dr. Mark Mulvihill, IMESD Superintendent, said having Dr. Williams visit was a great opportunity to share the strong, effective work being done in our region. “Whenever you share the boots-on-the-ground work being done by our skilled, dedicated educators every day, it’s a win,” Mulvihill said.
Williams also attended IMESD’s monthly Regional Superintendent Meeting.
