As the school year draws to a close, we invite our New Teachers and Mentor Teachers to gather for an afternoon of reflection, connection, and well-deserved recognition.

This celebration is more than just an end-of-year wrap-up; it is a dedicated space to pause and honor the incredible dedication you've shown over the past months. Together, we will look back on the milestones achieved, share the lessons learned in the trenches of the classroom, and celebrate the vital partnerships that have helped our community of teachers thrive.

This virtual gathering is part of the Oregon Trail Regional Educator Network's Administrator Collaborative Series. The roundtable will be facilitated by Mike Scott from RightTime Coaching and will cover relevant, real-time issues that our regional educational leaders are facing. Please make sure to register to get the link. Contact McKennon McDonald if you have any questions.

IMESD Board Meeting

Preventing & Responding to Extreme Dysregulation: A Guide for School Leaders

Mike Scott with Right Time Coaching and Dr. Will Henson will present to administrators, behavior support specialists and counselors, k-8, regarding supporting best practice with challenging student behavior. Lunch provided.

IMESD Board Work Session

Details coming soon...

Learn practical strategies to create a calm, structured, and positive elementary classroom. This session focuses on teaching routines, reinforcing positive behavior, and responding to challenges with consistency and clarity. Participants will leave with ready-to-use tools they can implement right away.

This session explores literacy practices in K–2 classrooms, highlighting how young children develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills through meaningful, social experiences. Participants will examine practical strategies for integrating literacy across the school day and creating engaging, developmentally appropriate learning environments. The session offers classroom examples and ideas to support early literacy growth for diverse learners.

Kick off your teaching career with clarity, confidence, and practical tools you can use right away. This summer workshop is a one-day, hands-on experience designed specifically for educators new to the profession.

This interactive workshop focuses on the three essentials for a strong start: Rules, Routines, and Relationships. You'll learn how to intentionally set up your classroom, prepare for the first week of school, and build a positive, engaging learning environment from day one.

By the end of the workshop, you'll leave with a clear, personalized plan for launching your classroom-ready to build a structured, supportive, and engaging environment where both you and your students can thrive.

This workshop is being held in Pendleton.

Learn practical strategies to create a calm, structured, and positive elementary classroom. This session focuses on teaching routines, reinforcing positive behavior, and responding to challenges with consistency and clarity. Participants will leave with ready-to-use tools they can implement right away.

This session explores literacy practices in K–2 classrooms, highlighting how young children develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills through meaningful, social experiences. Participants will examine practical strategies for integrating literacy across the school day and creating engaging, developmentally appropriate learning environments. The session offers classroom examples and ideas to support early literacy growth for diverse learners.

The Summer Series GROW 2.0 is a one-day workshop designed specifically for 2nd and 3rd year educators, building on your early classroom experience to help you take the next step in your practice. This session focuses on deepening instructional impact, strengthening classroom management, and supporting continued professional growth through practical, ready-to-use strategies. You'll collaborate with peers, reflect on your current practices, and refine the systems you've already put in place.

By the end of the workshop, you'll have a clear, personalized plan to enhance student engagement and respond effectively to classroom challenges, along with tools to strengthen and sustain an effective learning environment. You'll leave prepared to move forward with confidence, purpose, and a continued focus on growth during these pivotal early years of your career.

The location of this workshop is in Pendleton.

Are your students suffering from "First-Link Syndrome"? In this fast-paced, 50-minute session, we'll move beyond basic Google searches and dive into OSLIS.org-the curated powerhouse for Oregon K-12 research.

Instead of fighting through ads and biased blogs, you'll learn how to leverage Gale and Britannica databases to find vetted, high-quality content for any grade level. We will explore how to differentiate instruction instantly using Lexile filters and translation tools, and we'll practice the "SIFT" method-a professional fact-checking technique that helps students assess credibility in under 60 seconds.

Key Takeaways:

Navigate with Purpose: Master the OSLIS database ecosystem to find grade-appropriate content.

Differentiate in Seconds: Use built-in accessibility tools (Lexile filters, Read-Aloud, Translation) to support all learners.

Teach Critical Thinking: Shift from long checklists to the streamlined SIFT method for assessing source authority.

Immediate Application: Create a direct-access link for a specific article tailored to your upcoming curriculum.

1. link to join training

Does your Google Drive feel like a "junk drawer" of unnamed documents and endless "Shared with Me" files? Before the school year kicks into high gear, join us for a hands-on "digital deep clean." This session is designed to help you reclaim your digital workspace. We won't just talk about organization-we will actually do it. Participants will learn how to audit their current files, build a sustainable folder hierarchy, and use advanced search features to find exactly what they need in seconds. Leave this session with a clean Drive and a clear plan to stay organized all year long.

Key Takeaways:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Implement an Annual Archive System: Learn the "One-Folder Reset" method to clear out last year's clutter without losing important resources.

Design a Visual Hierarchy: Master the use of naming conventions (prefixes), color-coding, and emojis to create a Drive that is intuitively organized at a glance.

Tame the "Shared with Me" Tab: Understand the difference between file ownership and shortcuts, ensuring shared department or grade-level resources are filed where you want them.

Leverage "Starred" & "Priority" Views: Identify and pin "Daily Essentials" (like attendance sheets or master schedules) for one-click access.

Search Like a Power User: Utilize advanced search filters (file type, owner, and date modified) to stop scrolling and start finding.

1. link to join training

Kick off your teaching career with clarity, confidence, and practical tools you can use right away. This summer workshop is a one-day, hands-on experience designed specifically for educators new to the profession.

This interactive workshop focuses on the three essentials for a strong start: Rules, Routines, and Relationships. You'll learn how to intentionally set up your classroom, prepare for the first week of school, and build a positive, engaging learning environment from day one.

By the end of the workshop, you'll leave with a clear, personalized plan for launching your classroom-ready to build a structured, supportive, and engaging environment where both you and your students can thrive.

This workshop is being held in La Grande.

Join EOU Assistant Professor of Education, Karie Smucker, for this informative session! Participants will consider development of reasoning in students when it comes to rational numbers and representations of those numbers (fractions/decimals), along with activities and applications that can support student learning in these areas.

Join EOU Assistant Professor of Education, Karie Smucker, for this informative opportunity! This session will focus on the 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions, a teaching routine that supports dialogue and deep thinking around cognitively demanding tasks in K-12 classrooms. Participants will leave this session with an understanding of the 5 Practices approach, along with some specific tasks from a variety of grade levels that could be used to frame a lesson focused on discussion and inquiry.

Join literacy expert Yolanda Westerberg for an engaging and practical professional learning session focused on strengthening literacy instruction in grades K-1. This session will explore essential early literacy foundations, high-impact instructional strategies, and research-based best practices that support young learners in becoming confident readers and writers.

Participants will deepen their understanding of how to effectively launch the school year with strong literacy routines, create supportive and language-rich classroom environments, and implement developmentally appropriate strategies that build foundational skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Special attention will be given to aligning instruction to grade-level literacy standards while meeting the needs of diverse learners.

Through interactive learning and real-world application, educators will:

1. Strengthen their knowledge of foundational literacy skills in grades K-1
2. Explore effective strategies for teaching early reading and writing
3. Learn practical ways to start the year with clear routines and high expectations
4. Build understanding of grade-level literacy standards and instructional alignment
5. Develop tools to support diverse learners and foster academic language
6. Leave with ready-to-use ideas to enhance daily literacy instruction
7. This session is ideal for K-1 classroom teachers, interventionists, and instructional leaders committed to building strong literacy outcomes for all students.

The Summer Series GROW 2.0 is a one-day workshop designed specifically for 2nd and 3rd year educators, building on your early classroom experience to help you take the next step in your practice. This session focuses on deepening instructional impact, strengthening classroom management, and supporting continued professional growth through practical, ready-to-use strategies. You'll collaborate with peers, reflect on your current practices, and refine the systems you've already put in place.

By the end of the workshop, you'll have a clear, personalized plan to enhance student engagement and respond effectively to classroom challenges, along with tools to strengthen and sustain an effective learning environment. You'll leave prepared to move forward with confidence, purpose, and a continued focus on growth during these pivotal early years of your career.

The location of this workshop is in La Grande.

Join EOU Assistant Professor of Education, Karie Smucker, for this informative session! Participants will consider development of reasoning in students when it comes to rational numbers and representations of those numbers (fractions/decimals), along with activities and applications that can support student learning in these areas.

Join literacy expert Yolanda Westerberg for an engaging and practical professional learning session focused on strengthening literacy instruction in grades 3-5. This session will explore essential literacy foundations, high-impact instructional strategies, and research-based best practices that support students in becoming skilled, independent readers and writers.

Participants will deepen their understanding of how to effectively launch the school year with strong literacy routines, create supportive and language-rich classroom environments, and implement strategies that strengthen comprehension, writing, vocabulary, and academic discourse. Emphasis will be placed on aligning literacy instruction to grade-level standards and supporting students in accessing increasingly complex texts and writing tasks.

Through interactive learning and real-world application, educators will:

1. Strengthen their understanding of literacy foundations in grades 2-5
2. Explore effective strategies for reading comprehension and writing instruction
3. Learn practical ways to start the year with clear routines and high expectations
4. Build understanding of grade-level literacy standards and instructional alignment
5. Develop tools to support diverse learners and foster academic language
6. Leave with ready-to-use ideas to enhance daily literacy instruction

This session is ideal for grades 2-5 classroom teachers, interventionists, and instructional leaders committed to strengthening literacy achievement and building confident readers and writers.

Join EOU Assistant Professor of Education, Karie Smucker, for this informative opportunity! This session will focus on the 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions, a teaching routine that supports dialogue and deep thinking around cognitively demanding tasks in K-12 classrooms. Participants will leave this session with an understanding of the 5 Practices approach, along with some specific tasks from a variety of grade levels that could be used to frame a lesson focused on discussion and inquiry.

Building Strong Readers and Writers Through Disciplinary Literacy: Secondary PD with Yolanda Westerberg

Join literacy expert Yolanda Westerberg for a dynamic professional learning session designed to strengthen disciplinary literacy across grades 6-12. This session emphasizes the critical role all secondary educators play in supporting students to read, write, think, and communicate effectively within their specific content areas. Participants will explore key literacy foundations for secondary learners alongside high-impact, research-based disciplinary literacy strategies that support comprehension, writing, and academic language development in every classroom-from science and social studies to math, CTE, and beyond. Emphasis will be placed on starting the school year strong by establishing purposeful routines, clear expectations, and instructional practices that promote engagement, independence, and rigor across disciplines.

Through interactive learning and practical application, educators will:

1. Deepen their understanding of literacy foundations within secondary content areas
2. Explore effective, discipline-specific reading and writing strategies
3. Learn best practices for embedding disciplinary literacy into daily instruction
4. Develop routines and structures that support a strong start to the school year
5. Strengthen student discourse and academic language across content areas
6. Gain tools to support diverse learners, including multilingual learners
7. Leave with ready-to-implement strategies tailored to their discipline

This workshop shares one instructional method that has shown positive results in helping students connect mathematical content to their own lives and experiences. The goal is not to present a perfect or one-size-fits-all solution, but rather to offer a practical strategy that teachers can adapt to fit their own classrooms, students, and curriculum. Attendees will create documents such as quizzes, homework, and entrance/exit tickets, through google slides and Powerpoint.

1. Make sure to bring a laptop or chromebook, and charging cord as well as some curriculum for framework to help create new documents.

Join literacy expert Yolanda Westerberg for an engaging and practical professional learning session designed to help K-5 teachers confidently launch literacy instruction at the start of the school year. This session will focus on building strong classroom routines, establishing a positive literacy culture, and creating the foundation for successful readers and writers through intentional planning and instructional practices.

Participants will explore the September Smart Start and Launching Units for the beginning of the year with clear expectations, purposeful routines, and meaningful literacy experiences. Educators will also dive into key components of Writers Workshop, including how to establish structures that support student independence, engagement, and writing growth from the very first days of school.

The session will include support for long-range literacy planning and guidance on utilizing the Literacy Hub resource to access instructional materials, tools, and supports throughout the year. Participants will also connect their learning to the book The First 15 Days of Writers Workshop to strengthen classroom routines and writing workshop implementation.

Through interactive learning and practical application, educators will:

1. Learn strategies for a successful September Smart Start in literacy
2. Explore routines and structures for launching Readers and Writers Workshop
3. Build systems that support strong literacy instruction and student independence
4. Develop plans for year-long literacy instruction and pacing
5. Utilize Literacy Hub resources and materials to support instruction throughout the year
6. Strengthen classroom culture, engagement, and academic language development
7. Leave with ready-to-implement ideas and resources for the first weeks of school

This session is ideal for K-5 classroom teachers, interventionists, and instructional leaders committed to creating strong literacy foundations and launching the school year with purpose and confidence.

Ronda Smith, IMESD Systems Improvement Coach, and Dave Williams, IMESD Director of School Improvement, will share ready-to-use strategies for building administrators supporting instructional supervision, building culture, communication, student management and overall building improvement systems.

Coaching for Strong Literacy Instruction: Supporting Teachers to Build Readers and Writers with Yolanda Westerberg

Join literacy expert Yolanda Westerberg for a targeted professional learning session designed specifically for literacy leaders and instructional coaches. This session focuses on how to effectively support and coach teachers in strengthening literacy instruction across classrooms and grade levels. Participants will deepen their understanding of essential literacy foundations, high-impact instructional strategies, and research-based best practices that lead to stronger readers and writers. Emphasis will be placed on how coaches can support teachers in launching the school year with clarity, consistency, and purpose—building strong instructional routines, expectations, and classroom systems from the start.

Through practical coaching tools and application-based learning, participants will:

1. Strengthen their understanding of literacy foundations and effective instruction
2. Learn how to coach teachers in implementing high-impact reading and writing strategies
3. Explore best practices for supporting literacy instruction across grade levels and content areas
4. Develop strategies for helping teachers start the year strong with effective routines and structures
5. Build tools for coaching academic language, discourse, and student engagement
6. Support teachers in meeting the needs of diverse learners, including multilingual learners
7. Leave with actionable coaching moves and resources to strengthen classroom literacy instruction

This workshop shares one instructional method that has shown positive results in helping students connect mathematical content to their own lives and experiences. The goal is not to present a perfect or one-size-fits-all solution, but rather to offer a practical strategy that teachers can adapt to fit their own classrooms, students, and curriculum. Attendees will create documents such as quizzes, homework, and entrance/exit tickets, through google slides and Powerpoint.

1. Make sure to bring a laptop or chromebook, and charging cord as well as some curriculum for framework to help create new documents.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Wildhorse Foundation Trust, IMESD is sponsoring two Playworks trainings in the region. This event is intended for elementary paraprofessionals, elementary physical education teachers, and elementary principals. Participants will experience the value of 'play' and will acquire new best practices for implementing safe and healthy play for students at recess.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Wildhorse Foundation Trust, IMESD is sponsoring two Playworks trainings in the region. This event is intended for elementary paraprofessionals, elementary physical education teachers, and elementary principals. Participants will experience the value of 'play' and will acquire new best practices for implementing safe and healthy play for students at recess.

2026 OSBA Fall Regional Meeting & Regionwide Board Member Training

Location: Eastern Oregon University - Gilbert Event Center, One University Blvd, La Grande, OR 97850

Date: Monday, October 26 -5:30 Board Training, 6:30 p.m. Dinner and 7:00 p.m. Meeting

Monday, October 26:

1. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Regionwide Board Member Training
2. 6:30-7 p.m. Dinner
3. 7-8 p.m. Fall Regional Meeting

2026 OSBA Fall Regional Meeting - Pendleton & Regionwide Board Member Training

Location: Pendleton Convention Center - Rooms 1,2,3, 1601 Westgate, Pendleton OR. 97801

Date: Tuesday, October 27 -5:30 Board Training, 6:30 p.m. Dinner, and 7:00 p.m. Meeting

Tuesday, October 27:

1. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Regionwide Board Member Training
2. 6:30-7 p.m. Dinner
3. 7-8 p.m. Fall Regional Meeting