Early School Success Partners Celebrate Accomplishments at Spring Event

by Aditi Sharma | May 9, 2024 | Educators and Workforce, Professional Learning, Early School Success

The pitter-patter of spring showers gave way to a steady hum of anticipation as Early School Success (ESS) school districts spent the day celebrating collective achievements, reflecting on triumphs and challenges, and envisioning the future of ESS in their school communities, on May 2 at Willamette ESD in Salem, OR.

Throughout the day, participants engaged in a series of hands-on activities designed to both encourage thoughtful conversation among colleagues, and simulate practices that they have implemented in their classrooms. For example, loose parts is an approach to play, based on the idea that when children are given a collection of objects (think pipe cleaners, beads, and buttons) they have more opportunity for engagement and creativity, as they tinker with an array of objects.

Additional stations included watercolors, clay, and musical instruments, with each medium becoming a canvas for self-expression and allowing educators to engage in their own play-based learning.

As attendees thought about their experiences from the past year and built their creations, every design represented their evolving perspectives and aspirations. From embracing multilingualism to fostering inclusive classrooms, each piece of art spoke to the group’s collective vision for student-centered learning.

Starla Nelson, principal at Oceanlake, shared that having different materials at the loose parts stations provided freedom of choice and expression.

“Similarly, having a variety of sensory materials in the classrooms can create empowered learning environments for the students,” she said.

Educators also spoke passionately about the positive impact of implementing change ideas in their classrooms. One educator shared that previously reluctant learners in the classroom found a voice and actively collaborated in group activities by using tangible objects to articulate their thoughts.

As the day continued, facilitators guided teams through exercises that emphasized building trust. Participants explored what it means to be student-centered and shared insights and ideas.

“I loved reflecting on the triad of trust. I made connections, learned new ideas, and gained new perspectives,” shared one participant.

Later in the day, teams completed a “dreamspace” activity, which included a lively discussion about the future of Early School Success. Educators also articulated a shared vision grounded in empathy and equity through collaborative brainstorming.

As the day concluded, participants expressed their appreciation through a final activity that embodied the spirit of teamwork and celebrating collective success.

Talisa Timms, continuous improvement specialist at Children’s Institute and one of the event facilitators, shared that she was honored to lead Early School Success teams through a day of reflection, dreaming, and planning.

“I am always in awe of how deeply committed school teams are to improving outcomes and shifting systems for kids, families, and their communities,’ Timms said.

Ultimately, the Early School Success spring cross-network meeting was more than just a gathering – it was a celebration of the unwavering dedication of educators who are committed to shaping a brighter future for students, families, and communities. And as participants departed, their hearts and minds brimming with inspiration, they carried with them seeds of change, ready to bloom and flourish in the days ahead.

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Looking Back, Moving Forward: Early School Success Academy’s Year in Review

by Aditi Sharma | Apr 17, 2024 | Educators and Workforce, Professional Learning, Early School Success

Exciting news! Children’s Institute’s Early Learning Academy is now the Early School Success Academy (ESS Academy).

The name has changed, but everything else remains the same. The ESS Academy will continue its mission to empower educators in strengthening early learning, from preschool to third grade in their communities through a team-based learning experience.

Read on to take a look back with us as we reflect on the 2023-2024 ESS Academy, and discover why this learning opportunity is too good to miss!

A room of people coming together for legislative meetings.

As always, the ESS Academy offers educators, administrators, and other school staff a chance to come together, learn, and collaborate to strengthen educational systems for children in Oregon.

Last year, nine school districts joined us for a series of engaging sessions and personalized coaching. Partner districts in attendance included Centennial, Columbia Gorge ESD, Wallowa ESD, Eugene 4J, Grants Pass, Gresham-Barlow, Hillsboro, South Lane, and Yoncalla school districts. Teams comprised of preschool through second-grade educators, instructional coaches, elementary principals, and district early learning leaders.

Three women working in early childhood advocacy, including Elena and Andi from CI's Policy team.

Designed as a hub for networking and shared growth, the ESS Academy fosters collaboration and shared learning among school communities and this year’s cohort was committed to strengthening their own practices, with support from their colleagues from other areas of the state. The 2023-2024 Academy began with a full-day session centered on integrating diverse perspectives into change planning. Teams aligned their efforts with continuous improvement principles and crafted actionable strategies tailored to their unique school environments, in subsequent sessions.

Central to this collaborative journey were our valued culturally specific community partners – Adelante Mujeres, Center for African Immigrants and Refugees (CAIRO), Youth Organized and United to Help (Y.O.U.T.H), and Strength-based Prevention, Intervention & Resilience Informing Teaching Strategies (S.P.I.R.I.T.S). They facilitated critical dialogues on topics such as kindergarten readiness; power to motivate, inspire, empower; and why it is important to engage in the cultural strengths within our communities.

Reflecting on their experiences, participants expressed newfound clarity and optimism.

“I used to think our work was too big to be impactful right away, and now I see a path forward with an impactful and meaningful starting place,” said one participant.

Another noted the power of partnership in driving systemic change.

“I used to think that our K-12 system had to figure it out alone. Now, I think we must do it in partnership with a very wide network of stakeholders,” they said.

Facilitated entirely online to accommodate educators’ diverse schedules, the ESS Academy offers a professional learning experience like no other. Participants echoed a resounding appreciation for the program’s unique blend of guided facilitation and dedicated team time within the sessions, where the focused collaboration and connection with other districts enriched their progress.

Looking ahead, the ESS Academy invites school teams to join a dynamic statewide network of educators committed to strengthening early learning in their school communities. Educators gain access to rich content, expert thought partnerships, coaching, resources, and membership to our exclusive change library by participating.

Curious to learn more? Contact our Professional Learning Specialist, Shawnté Hines, at shawnte@childinst.org and join the Early School Success Academy 2024-2025!

Early School Success Winter Cross-Network Meeting 2024

by Aditi Sharma | Feb 20, 2024 | Educators and Workforce, News, Professional Learning, Early School Success, Equity

On February 8, 2024 school teams from four Early School Success (ESS) districts convened for a collaborative winter cross-network meeting. This marked the first time the meeting was held virtually. The gathering provided an opportunity for intentional pause and thoughtful reflection on the equity gaps within school systems, the impact of the school district’s change ideas, and support for students.

Partner districts in attendance included Beaverton, Forest Grove, Lincoln County, and St. Helens school districts. Teams comprised of preschool through second-grade educators, instructional coaches, elementary principals, and district early learning leaders.

Talisa Timms, a continuous improvement specialist at Children’s Institute, said that the winter-cross network meeting was a testament to CI’s commitment to innovation.

“We introduced a new tool to capture the reflective equity work our Early School Success partner schools are doing to understand their systems through data, deeply,” Timms said.

Teams collaborated with other districts on activities, focusing on understanding the impact of identity in their work, reflecting on continuous improvement, addressing equity gaps, and measuring progress for accountability and improvement in school systems.

“My experience with equity work is the more you know your local context and are intentional about reflecting with your practice, you create pathways for more opportunities, more collaboration, and creative ways to address the needs showing up in the classroom,” said Julio Bautista, continuous improvement specialist at Children’s Institute.

“It was evident our educators were thinking critically of their systems and brainstorming ways to improve the experience for students,” he said.

Discussions during breakout room sessions revolved around the experiences of students and families and identified areas for improvement and success. Participants valued the opportunity to connect with and learn from each other.

They also appreciated the framework to support their conversations and hear how other schools are approaching the equity gaps in their systems. One participant shared, “If we could mobilize and harness our strength, we could be pretty powerful in each of our districts and our state.”

The school-based team at Children’s Institute looks forward to supporting educators and finding interactive and meaningful ways to engage them in the work.

“I learned so much from our partners, as I always do,” said Timms. “I found joy in our process and inspiration in conversations about what’s happening in real-time in our Early School Success schools. Shoutout to our partners for their willingness to lean in and embrace all that comes with change work!”

Interested in bringing Early School Success Academy to your district? Contact Director of School-Based Initiatives – Erin Lolich at erin.lolich@childinst.org.

From Vision to Impact: Early School Success in Action

by Aditi Sharma | Jan 3, 2024 | Educators and Workforce, News, Professional Learning, Early School Success, Equity

As we step into a new year, we are reflecting on the journey of Early School Success (ESS)—a journey that has been shaped by collaboration and a shared commitment to create aligned early learning experiences for children in preschool through fifth grade. ESS represents an ongoing, collective effort to cultivate growth, resilience, and academic achievement for young learners. Rooted in evidence-based strategies, ESS strives to bridge the gap between research and practice, and seeks to build educational systems that actively support a range of educational needs.

We have come a long way since the inception of ESS and appreciate the path that we have travelled to get to where we are now. We look forward to the next phase of this work, which will focus on reaching more students through deep partnerships with school districts and educators.

The Early School Success Approach

The School-Based Initiatives (SBI) team at Children’s Institute partners with school districts across Oregon. One of the key bodies of work within SBI is Early School Success (ESS), which supports educators and school leaders to align family engagement, developmentally appropriate teaching and learning, and other school supports for children. This ensures continuity from preschool through the elementary grades and sets a foundation for lifelong learning. Current ESS partners include Beaverton, Forest Grove, Lincoln County, and St. Helens school districts.

Additionally, ESS reaches more educators and students through our Early School Success Academy (ESS Academy), which is open to all school districts and education service districts (ESDs) in Oregon. ESS Academy is a virtual cohort-based learning experience that guides district teams through a year-long professional learning series. In our 2023-24 ESS Academy cohort, nine school districts and ESDs across Oregon are engaged in alignment and building systems to strengthen early learning.

At their core, ESS and ESS Academy create a holistic vision and nurture learning environments beyond traditional educational models, tailored to each child’s unique needs. Our approaches are community-driven and draw upon the strengths of improvement science and human-centered design. This work aims to address the root causes of educational inequity and dismantle systemic barriers to school success.

Charting the course forward

After five years of meaningful engagement with school district partners, ESS is transitioning into a strategic five-year expansion. The next phase will focus on continued support for rural school districts and ESS Academy expansion.

After the first four years of partnership, Beaverton and Forest Grove school districts are set to become learning labs, spreading ESS and improvement processes across their elementary schools. As we continue this work well into the future, we plan to increase the number of schools benefiting from ESS, ensuring innovative models, support, and resources reach more districts, schools, and educators. We will also be able to provide more resources and reach more districts, schools, and educators. 

Our partnerships make ESS successful

Now, more than ever, the success of Early School Success is deeply intertwined with the dedicated support of educators and school districts. Over the last five years, CI’s engagement with two unique cohorts of educators has provided direct coaching to 114 educators and impacted over 3,000 students.

“I have worked with Children’s Institute for the last three years and as an educator, I have learned so much from them,” said Dani Boylan, director of early learning at Helens School District.

These powerful partnerships highlight tangible outcomes in the classroom. For example, children who attended Toledo preschool learned the flow of their school day by managing an interactive visual schedule; and in Toledo kindergarten classrooms children use the same process, making the transition from one learning environment to another consistent.

CI also partners with four different culturally specific organizations for the Early School Success Academy—CAIRO, Y.O.U.T.H, S.P.I.R.I.T.S, and Adelante Mujeres—which further strengthens professional learning for educators to find solutions that work best for the communities they work with.

Boylan explained that the partnership has made the St. Helens School District stronger with administrators, teachers, and families better understanding the importance of early learning and all that it entails.

“This partnership has made my district stronger as a team. Administrators, teachers and families are seeing the importance of early learning and all that goes with it,” she said.

“Together, we’re helping children be more successful by working with teachers to make the transition more effortless for preschool to third grade.”

Interested in bringing ESS Academy to your district? Contact Shawnté Hines at shawnte@childinst.org.

Early Childhood Champion Ron Herndon Honored with the 2023 Alexander Award

by Aditi Sharma | Oct 26, 2023 | News, Announcements

In the heart of Portland, there is an exceptional individual who has spent a lifetime dedicated to turning hopes and aspirations into concrete actions, and who exemplifies what it means to be a champion for children.

We had the honor of presenting Ron Herndon with the 2023 Alexander Award at Children’s Institute’s Champions for Children – 20 years of Impact event on October 19.

Ron transcends the role of a community leader; he is a living testament to the power of commitment, advocacy, and unwavering dedication to the well-being of our children and families here in Oregon, and across the nation. Ron’s focus on institutional and systemic change promises a brighter future for all children, where the playing field is truly equitable.

“Ron Herndon has led transformative change in Oregon for decades with vision, innovation, and a deep commitment to ensure all children, birth to grade 5, and their families have what they need to thrive,” said Kali Thorne Ladd, Children’s Institute’s chief executive officer. “We are all better because of him.

In 1975, Ron took the helm as the Director of Albina Head Start. It was there that he laid the foundation for a legacy that would expand far beyond the walls of early learning centers. From 1991 to 2013, his journey took a national stage as he assumed the roles of President and Board Chair of the National Head Start Association (NHSA). This position was a platform for transformative change and pivotal in elevating the quality of Head Start programs nationwide. As Chair, he provided unyielding leadership and support, including advocating for over 900,000 children and families. Ron’s dedication and leadership in this role transformed early childhood education across the nation, ensuring that children with the least access to early learning opportunities received a solid foundation for success.

Ron’s contributions have earned him high regard, deep respect, and fond admiration from a vast community of friends and admirers whom he continues to inspire.

Joe McFerrin, chief executive officer at Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC), aptly notes, “Ronnie Herndon’s leadership and impact in the field of early childhood development are incredible, but his positive influence on professionals working with children of all ages is immeasurable.”

Ralph Smith, managing director at the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading vividly recalled Ron’s impact, describing him as a “one-of-kind visionary leader, courageous advocate, and tireless warrior for social justice and economic uplift.”

Beyond his leadership roles, Ron’s influence through mentorship has also created a ripple effect.

“Ronnie is a true visionary,” said Miriam Calderon, chief policy officer at ZERO TO THREE. “There are few leaders who have stood for centering racial and social justice in early childhood as he has. I feel blessed to have him as a mentor since early in my career and know that I am not alone, as he has so generously done that for many in this field, and that is part of his legacy and impact.”

It is not just about mentorship, but also about driving lasting change. Governor Tina Kotek underscored this point when she shared how Ron has left an indelible mark on generations of Oregonians.

“For more than 50 years, Ron Herndon has been a powerful voice for the Black community in Portland, especially for the needs of children in North and Northeast Portland,” she said. “As a community leader, he has supported essential services for generations of Oregonians – perhaps most importantly through the growth of Albina Head Start – guiding it from an organization that served more than 100 kids to well over 1,000.”

As we honor Ron Herndon with the 2023 Alexander Award, we celebrate not just a community leader, but a beacon of hope.

In the words of Tony Hopson, “Many people hope for change, some people talk about change, but few people make change. Ronnie represents the few.”

We express our heartfelt gratitude to Ron, his legacy and relentless dedication, and unwavering commitment to create a brighter future for all children.

More about the Alexander Award

The Alexander Award is named for prominent Oregon leader Dick Alexander and was first awarded by Children’s Institute to Governor John Kitzhaber in 2013 for his work building Oregon’s early childhood system. Since then, the award has recognized individual leaders such as Ken Thrasher and Sue Miller and communities like Wallowa County for significant work to improve the lives of young children. Beyond honoring individual leaders and communities, the Alexander Award calls attention to the need for business and civic leaders to work together to build a system of programs and services to support children’s healthy development and school readiness in order to ensure Oregon’s future success.

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