Adam Whalen & Misty Wharton Talk School Performance and Workforce Development

Becoming a Great Reader Doesn’t Happen By Accident [Narrated Story]

For years, educators in Astoria were doing everything they thought they were supposed to do to teach kids how to read. The curriculum was widely used. Teachers were working hard. Students were trying their best. But something wasn’t adding up. In this narrated story, we follow Stephanie Sparks and a team of Astoria educators as they begin shifting their district to the science of reading — a research-backed approach to how the brain actually learns to read. With support from Northwest Regional ESD, the district is rebuilding its literacy system and seeing promising gains from students along the way. Hear the story of how one coastal Oregon district is proving a simple but powerful idea: all students can learn to read. Read this story. [https://www.nwresd.org/Home/Components/News/News/1439/59?npage=3]

Adam Whalen & Misty Wharton Talk School Performance and Workforce Development

What if the bridge between high school and the workforce didn’t feel like a leap into the unknown? Hear from Adam Whalen and Misty Wharton, two Oregon education leaders helping reshape how students prepare for life after graduation. Often referred to as “career and college readiness,” this work is about much more than shop class or a checklist for graduation. It’s about building clear, relevant pathways that lead to living-wage careers and helping students discover what fits before they commit. From hands-on learning and workforce certifications to partnerships with local industry, Adam and Misty share how a regional approach can expand opportunity for all students across rural and urban communities alike. They discuss why experiential learning matters, how outdated perceptions of career and technical education persist and what it would look like if every student graduated with a clear and confident next step. The goal? A future where students don’t ask, “What do I want to do?” but instead say, “I know what I want to do, and I know how to get there.” Read this article. [https://www.nwresd.org/Home/Components/News/News/1523/59]

School Attendance is a Family Affair [Narrated Story]

Cheyanne used to hate school. She missed most of her freshman and sophomore years and was ready to give up... until something shifted.  In the rural school district of Jewell, Oregon, with just over 100 students, educators, families and students came together to rebuild what school could be. In the course of one school year, attendance skyrocketed by 25 percentage points. In real numbers, that means about 30 more students from Jewell’s class of 115 were coming to school nearly every day. Northwest Regional ESD’s Whitney Wagner tells the story of how one community learned that showing up starts with feeling seen. Read this article. [https://www.nwresd.org/Home/Components/News/News/1323/59?npage=3]

Freshman Year Isn’t What It Used to Be — That’s a Good Thing [Narrated Story]

What does it take to help a student stay on track in ninth grade and why does it matter so much? In this episode, hear from educators and students in Northwest Oregon who are rethinking what success looks like for freshmen. From personalized support and grading reform to student-led solutions and schoolwide culture shifts, this story highlights how collective effort is helping more students start strong and stay on course to graduate. Read this article. [https://www.nwresd.org/Home/Components/News/News/1280/59?npage=2]

From the Archives: Go Inside the Firewall to Learn about Cybersecurity

Originally released as a video in February 2025,  this extended audio cut revisits Superintendent Dan Goldman’s conversation with Mike Potter and Jacob Doxtator from our cybersecurity team. As digital infrastructure becomes increasingly essential to education, we’re sharing this archival audio to spotlight the people safeguarding our systems—and the humor, humanity, and high stakes behind their everyday work.