From the Superintendent
Our mission is to improve student outcomes with excellence, equity, and efficiency. Implement best practices for educators gleaned from investigation, innovation, and incubation of ideas and efforts from the public and private sectors.
Success Story: Persistence is the key to Independence, with Julio Buendia
Julio Buendia has some good advice for students who are working on job skills: Be persistent and keep trying. It’s a mindset that has worked for him this summer, as he successfully finished his junior year at Sisters High School and began a new job working at Home...
Success story: Balancing work and school, with Vince Rosiello
At age 15, Vince Rosiello is still too young to drive. He is, however, old enough to hold two jobs and be a full-time student. This past year, he successfully finished his freshman year at Sisters High School in the transition program, and he’ll be back as a sophomore...
Person-Centered Planning During a Pandemic
Every transition student is unique. They have different strengths, interests, and talents, and different challenges too. And like most young adults, they spend a lot of time thinking about their future. What kind of job would they enjoy? How will they get around town?...
Time for Mindfulness: Four Ways to Lower Stress and Stay Calm
Life can be stressful in the best of times. These days, families have even more challenges as they stay at home, studying and working together. Students miss their friends and teachers, many jobs and internships are on hold, and the future seems unpredictable. The new...
Educators must have an unwavering stance on racism and equity
On behalf of the children and families who look to us for partnership and support, we stand in solidarity with our communities of color. This is a time for us to show courage and to raise our voices against injustice and stand up for the children and families we serve.
Open Board Positions
High Desert Education Service District (HDESD) is seeking candidates interested in filling two appointed board positions. Applicants will be interviewed by the five elected board members and appointed to take office July 21, 2020, for a four year term ending June 30,...
Assistive Technologies Help Transition Students Succeed
Three Helpful Apps for Transition Students, from an Assistive Technology Specialist Wendy Burkhardt has high expectations for her students. “It’s important to believe that a student is capable. When we start with that expectation, that they can do a certain task even...
Meet Central Oregon’s Pre-ETS Coordinator
Ask Desiree Berry what a typical day looks like for her, and with a smile she’ll answer, “There’s no such thing as a typical day.” Her work schedule takes her from board meetings to one-on-one sessions with transition students, and from presenting at workshops to...
Family Access Network Receives Redmond Chamber Award
The Family Access Network (FAN) recently received the Community Service Award from the Redmond Chamber of Commerce & CVB. The Redmond Chamber awards celebrate the individuals and businesses that have had a significant impact on the Redmond community throughout...
Learning Together
Middle school students and teachers from Bend and Redmond gathered at OSU-Cascades for an immersion in computer science activities sponsored by the STEM Hub program. Students worked with micro:bits to "roll" electronic dice and create probability tables. After a...
CDC Awards $2.2 million research grant to evaluate Central Oregon Traumatic Brain Injury Program
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded the Center on Brain Injury Research and Training (CBIRT) a 4-year, $2.2 million cooperative agreement to study a Central Oregon Return to School (RTS) program for students with Traumatic Brain Injury. A kickoff...
4th Annual Central Oregon Skilled Trades Fair
Over 700 students from around the region packed Deschutes County Fairgrounds to attend the 4th Annual Central Oregon Skilled Trades Fair. With 75 organizations present, hands-on activities were offered such as virtual welding, construction, coding, and fire science...
How a Unique Role is Helping Students with Disabilities
Working in schools, specialists like physical therapists, occupational therapists, autism specialists and more see ways in which assistive technology could really help young people in need. Assistive technology includes a wide range of devices and tools that can...
Juntos Aprendemos has three locations
Juntos Aprendemos is in its second year and has added a third location, Bear Creek Elementary in Bend. The program helps parents and preschool-age children of Spanish-speaking families in Bend and Redmond prepare for Kindergarten by learning literacy and social...
Breaking Barriers keynote speaker shares a message for transition students
Q & A with Jonathan Chase When Jonathan Chase was 14 years old, few people had high expectations for his future. He wasn’t succeeding in school, he’d recently been diagnosed with autism, and he was told he’d never be able to drive a car. Fast forward two decades,...
Success story: When work makes you happy, with Andrew Withrow
Ask Andrew Withrow what he likes best about his job at Bigfoot Beverages, and he’ll tell you that there are a lot of things he likes. But most of all, he’ll answer that “Work makes me happy.” Withrow, age 19, is a student at the Transition Co-op in Bend. He works...
New Tools to Identify Mental Health Disorders
How local transition students can help Spend time with any teenager, whether they are neurotypical or have a disability, and you’ll soon learn that mood swings are normal. But in some young adults, extreme moods or behaviors can signal a mental health problem that...
Celebrating a Year of Employment
Not many teenagers can say they’ve stayed at one job for an entire year. Sticking with a job takes persistence, dedication, and problem-solving. Marissa Cross, age 19, is one of those teens. Cross (pictured right with transition teacher Ken Thorp) is a transition...