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: Paul Smith
Building a healthy work and life routine, with Paul Smith What’s better than having a job you like? For Paul Smith, it’s having a job that fits his personality, his strengths, and his passion for staying fit. Smith, age 21, is in his final year as a transition...
Lizzie Alphonso
Success Story: Staying in touch with Lizzie Affonso, A transition co-op alum keeps her relationships strong Can you imagine life after graduating from your transition program? How about ten years, or even twenty years after graduation? Do you wonder how all those...
Central Oregon community agencies say YES to outdoor programs for kids
Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests team up with Children’s Forest of Central Oregon and 10 local agencies to engage youth during difficult times While 2020 was a particularly challenging year for many -- especially youth -- there were a few bright spots in Central...
More than a job fair:
The Southern Oregon Trade Career Expo Where might you find a marine, a bulldozer, a geologist, and a transition student all in the same place? If you were part of the Southern Oregon Trade Careers Expo, you’d have seen all those folks, and many more. The expo was held...
Beat the Bus Stop Blues!
CET bus rides just got better for transition students. Navigating the bus routes in Central Oregon just got a whole lot easier, according to Ashley Mohni, strategic programs and partnerships coordinator for Cascades East Transit (CET), “Every bus in Bend is now...
HEP Celebration
The Central Oregon High School Equivalency Program (HEP) celebrated these four students as their first to complete the program and obtain their General Education Diploma (GED). HEP is an educational program sponsored by the federal government to help migrant students...
SUCCESS STORY: Starting strong at the transition co-op, with Joe Jones
Most new transition students are curious about what employment is all about. Joe Jones is a little different: when he started his first year at the Bend transition co-op this September, he was already established in a job, and had been getting a paycheck for almost...
Got college on your mind? 4 tips for visiting a campus this fall
The actress Audrey Hepburn had it right when she said “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says I’m Possible.” Her words are good advice for transition students who are curious about college. Compared to the small, close-knit community of a transition program, the...
Success Story: Dulce Dunham
A summer opportunity leads to a new career interest When Dulce Dunham joined the Sisters Summer Work Experience, she knew she’d get to try several different kinds of jobs. What she didn’t know was that she’d find a new sense of purpose and a passion for helping...
Impact Oregon: Careers that make a difference
In the transition network, we talk a lot about jobs, because employment is important for young adults with disabilities. Topics like job shadowing, internships, and pre-employment skills are all part of the discussion. But there is another side to the story that often...
FRIENDOMETRY: An online tool to combat childhood loneliness
Remember your best friend from childhood? That person who got your jokes, shared your secrets, would play your favorite games for hours, and was there with you through the ups and downs of life. Sometimes, having just that one friend made all the difference between...
Five Free Tools to Help Transition Students Save Money
How make the most of your paycheck and spend wisely Did you hear about the electrician who got his first paycheck? He was shocked! All jokes aside, receiving your first paycheck is exciting. It feels good to be rewarded for hard work! The first payday can be a...
Are relationship skills part of your transition program curriculum?
A training opportunity for teachers Sure, employment skills and work experiences are important. Resume building, job shadowing, knowing what to wear to an interview—it’s no surprise that transition teachers focus on these areas. But what topics do our students find...
Are you ready for a post-pandemic summer?
Four Q&As to help transition students jumpstart the season Summer is finally here! The days are long, the skies are sunny, and transition programs are wrapping up the school year. Pack up the boots and parkas and break out the flipflops and tank tops, because...
Success story: Staying calm in an emergency, with Cooper Thompson
On a typical day, Cooper Thompson’s shifts at work follow a predictable routine. It’s one of the things he likes about his job at Walmart, where he collects carts from the parking lot. Thompson, age 18, is also a student in the transition program in Redmond. He knows...
Finding employment support while participating in a transition program
Looking for a job?: Meet Michelle Furman, VR Employment Counselor Michelle Furman is new to the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) team in Central Oregon, but she’s had plenty of experience helping people with disabilities find jobs they enjoy. Before she began...
FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
Emergency Broadband Benefit Program — Beneficio de Emergencia para InternetWhat Is It and How Does It Workhttps://youtu.be/G-TaMzKJRg4¿Qué Es y Cómo Funciona?https://youtu.be/M0WIN-4i_1Ain American Sign Languagehttps://youtu.be/ERrCGJlsFzwAt-a-Glance The Emergency...
How Transition Students Fund Their Dreams
Understanding the Three Parts of Financial Planning What happens to a three-legged stool when one leg is wobbly? Well, you sure can’t rely on that stool to hold you up! A solid platform needs three sturdy legs to function well. Creating a well-constructed financial...