Our Priorities & Projects
What We’re Working Toward
Nurture and expand a high-quality pool of engaged educators who are reflective of student racial demographics in Multnomah and Clackamas counties.
Strategic Priority #1: Healthy School and/or District Cultures
An environment that empowers educators by valuing their voice, agency, and time; fostering a deep sense of belonging and connection with students, families, and colleagues; while actively elevating culturally diverse perspectives through a commitment to equity and inclusion.
1.1 | Develop processes and structures for building connection, community, and collaboration.
Culture & Climate Community of Practice: This CoP will provide ongoing access to resources, collegial support and learning focused on the implementation and integration of inclusive, culturally responsive, and affirming practices. These spaces provide community, reflection, and connection for educators, advancing both staff well-being and district equity goals.
DEIB Community of Practice: This community of practice brings Equity Leaders and Change Makers together to lean on and learn from each other.
1.2 | Create a culture of collaborative leadership and collective responsibility within schools and districts.
Social Sciences for a Better World: This program equips K-12 Social Science educators as change-agents and tangible springboards towards more equitable, transformational school curricula and culturally responsive practices. This year will feature district-wide curriculum and instruction work.
1.3 | Provide support for managing occupational stress, workload, and overwhelm.
AI Integration & Innovation: This project brings staff together from CESD and MESD to spearhead regional initiatives focused on integrating AI tools into curriculum development, special education, and workload efficiencies.
Collective Care: Relational Mindfulness for Those Who Work with Youth: Professional learning focused on wellness and mindfulness to both support educators’ wellbeing as we all support staff with tools so they are better able to support students.
Peer Wellness: This project focuses on mental health and wellbeing for classified educators working in alternative education programs by providing staff with skills and supported need to better care for themselves and each other, leading to a broader capacity to care for students and create a healthy school environment.
Regional AI Network: The Regional AI Network (RAIN) equips educators, leaders, and communities to confidently and equitably integrate AI into PK–12 education. RAIN supports educator efficiency and retention through meaningful collaboration, future-ready tools, and inclusive outreach to families and students.
Wayfinder Adult SEL: Educator on Purpose is an adult social-emotional program through Wayfinder. This learning series reconnects educators to their ‘why’ to assist in improving morale and well-being. Educators learn key factors that support purpose and well-being, are provided tools to increase a sense of lived purpose and manage stress more effectively, and analyze and reflect on core components of meaning and purpose in one’s career.
1.4 | Implement inclusive, equitable, and culturally sustaining strategies and structures.
EI/ECSE Equity in Leadership: This project aims to deepen educator understanding of systemic inequities, the historical bias in early childhood programs, and ways in which racial trauma affects children’s development.
Strategic Priority #2: Educators Feel Effective and Impactful
Educators feel like they have the training, skills, and resources to do their job effectively.
Educators believe they are having a positive impact on their students’ academic and social growth, especially for those experiencing predictable and disproportionate outcomes.
2.1 | School principals have the skills and resources to meet the needs of their educators, students, and the community.
Administrator Coaching Collaborative: This Collaborative is a five session series that will develop a school administrator coach’s expertise in supporting principals and assistant principals. It is aligned to the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders and integrates research based best practices with participants’ knowledge and experience.
Coaching for Transformation: Embedded coaching support for elementary school principals focusing on enhancing their capacity to conduct effective feedback conversations. This targeted professional learning will provide principals with robust, practical tools to address complex instructional challenges and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
New School Leader Collaborative: This year-long professional learning series and community of practice is designed for new principals and assistant principals across the MCREN region. It aims to build the skills and capacity of new school leaders to navigate the evolving challenges of school leadership.
Principal Impact Exchange: Program for Principals and Assistant Principals with 3 or more years of experience. Includes a deep dive into personal reflection; key strategies used by seasoned/successful administrators; mental health and work life balance techniques; and building relationships with colleagues across districts for cross collaboration support.
2.2 | Educators have access to enhanced leadership and career advancement opportunities.
MGYO Pathways Supports: Multnomah Grow Your Own is a partnership of school districts, higher education institutions, and community-based organizations dedicated to increasing the number of historically underrepresented educators in MESD school districts.
2.3 | Educators have the skills & resources to provide impactful (relevant, culturally responsive, & transferable) instructional practices.
Ambitious Math: This project aims to transform math practices in 8th and 9th grade classrooms by empowering, spotlighting, and supporting teachers as they implement student-led & collaborative math practices.
English Language Development Specialists Site Visits: This project builds a collaborative observation cycle where ELD specialists from across districts share strategies and learn together, breaking down the isolation many face. By strengthening collective expertise, we can expand equitable access to research-based practices and improve outcomes for middle school English Learners.
Teacher Mentor Collaborative: A collaborative learning space for mentors, coaches, and teacher leaders. Together, participants will explore responsive and equity-centered practices, foster belonging, and strengthen the skills that help educators thrive.
Regional Math Studio: This project aims to enhance math instruction and deepen the pedagogical and content knowledge of instructional assistants, teachers, and administrators through research-based practices, observing and debriefing live instruction to directly impact student learning in alignment with the Oregon Math Project goals.
Standards for Mathematical Practice: This project supports secondary mathematics teachers through a cycle of job-embedded professional learning that includes individual coaching, PLC collaboration, and team workshops.
New Teacher Mentoring: This project is designed to strengthen mentorship for new educators by engaging mentors in a structured professional learning series while also ensuring consistent, meaningful contact with mentees. The initiative prioritizes professional growth, accountability and recognition for mentors while offering valuable support to mentees.
2.4 | Educators have the skills & resources to positively engage and address the unique social, emotional & behavioral needs of all students.
Pathways to Belonging: SEL for All: This project is intended to build staff capacity in implementing consistent, evidence-based, and culturally responsive strategies that support elementary students with behavioral differences, resulting in equitable student experiences, stronger family partnerships, and improved school climate.
