MCREN Coordinating Body

The Coordinating Body consists of majority teachers and other key community stakeholders who represent our region. The Coordinating Body helps create the regional REN plan, makes decisions about funding, oversees regional implementation, and documents outcomes so that we can better serve educator needs.

Ben Baldizon

Project Manager, Paraeducator Professional Learning, Multnomah Education Service District

View Bio

Ben Baldizon has worked in education for over 15 years across the K-16 system. His experience includes being an educational assistant, bilingual liaison, tutor, and SUN manager as well as working to support teams of educators in increasing racial educational equity.

He is currently the Project Manager of Paraeducator Professional Learning at Multnomah Education Service District (MESD).

Natasha Jackson

Program Administrator, Multnomah Education Service District

View Bio

Bio Coming Soon!

Sara Snow

Director of Early Intervention/Early Childhood SPED Programs, Clackamas Education Service District

View Bio

Bio coming soon!

Cynthia Lam Moffit

School Partnership Director, Portland State University

View Bio

Bio coming soon!

Megan Barrett

Dean of Education, Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education

View Bio

Dr. Megan Barrett is the Program Director for Administrative Licensure, and teaches in the Principal License Program, the Professional Administrator Program, and the Doctoral program. She has worked as both a teacher and a school administrator, and brings expertise on supporting and re-engaging students who have dropped out or have been pushed out of school. Dr. Barrett’s work focuses on school leadership practices that foster care, belonging, and well-being for students and staff, with a particular focus on recognizing and supporting students and staff who are traditionally marginalized in/by schools. Dr. Barrett also has additional expertise in equity-centered leadership preparation, program redesign, district-university partnerships, and best practices for developing pipelines and pathways to leadership and licensure.

Kayla Bell

Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning, Clackamas Education Service District

View Bio

Kayla joined CESD in 2023. She brings with her 31 years of experience as an educator. She has been a teacher, instructional coach, building administrator and has district ​level experience. She joins this work because she has a deeply held belief that coaching and mentoring are essential for both teachers and administrators.

Dot Berry

3rd Grade Teacher & Equity Leader, Oregon City School District

View Bio

Dorothy Berry has spent over 22 years in elementary education. She is currently a third grade teacher in the Oregon City School District where she spent 7 years as the I-Team Chair facilitating the SST/SCT team in her building. She serves as the Equity Coordinator for John McLoughlin Elementary.

Dorothy believes that our education system is at its best when there is collaboration among our community, our families, and our schools. For this reason she became a member of the Oregon City Equity Steering Committee in the fall of 2021.

Jammie Landis

Elementary Principal, David Douglas School District

View Bio

Bio Coming Soon!

Leah Kyle

Science Teacher, Molalla River School District

View Bio

Bio Coming Soon!

Farnosh Gashemi

School Psychologist, West Lynn Wilsonville School District

View Bio

Farnosh is employed as a school psychologist at Wilsonville High School in the West-Linn Wilsonville School District in Oregon. With over 15 years of experience in the field of education, she has dedicated her career to assisting principals and teams in enhancing their Multi-Tiered System of Support. Farnosh holds a doctoral degree in leadership in special education, and her primary focus is on providing extensive support to school team, families and their children within the educational setting. Farnosh’s guiding principle is “advocacy,” and she actively aids the school team in utilizing data to enhance the school’s overall climate while promoting equality in supporting students from diverse backgrounds.

Chrysanthius Lathan

Principal Coach, Portland Public Schools

View Bio

Chrysanthius has been an educator with Portland School District for the past 17 years, teaching all grade bands, mentoring and coaching teachers and principals, and as a school administrator. Chrysanthius’ pointed and targeted approach to equity in education, and her bold action orientation, has yielded measurable results in every setting she has worked in. Her article, “Dear White Teacher,” has been used for the past decade in educator preparatory institutions across the globe. She is the mother of four children.

Kathy Childress

High School Principal, Corbett School District

View Bio

Kathy Childress is currently the principal of Corbett High School. She previously worked as a science teacher in Lake Oswego and Gresham-Barlow schools for over 27 years.

Her experience at Gresham High School included coordinating the International Baccalaureate program and coaching soccer.

Aurora Risdon

General Learning Specialist, Lake Oswego School District

View Bio

Bio Coming Soon!

Kristi Ross

Elementary Teacher, Parkrose School District

View Bio

Bio Coming Soon!

13455 SE 97th Avenue,
Clackamas, OR 97015