Season 15 Introduction: Community Schools

Does your school focus on the whole child, emphasizing not only academic learning, but also wellness and community engagement? Tune into Season 15 of our OEA Grow podcast to learn about Community Schools in Oregon, public schools that provide integrated services and support to meet the needs of students, families, and communities.

Our hosts for the season are Angela Vargas and Lauren MCartney, both educators in the Beaverton School District and leaders on state and national levels in racial and social justice efforts in education. Angela is an Early Learning TOSA (Teacher on Special Assignment), who partners with teachers to develop a practice of student-centered inquiry. Lauren teaches Humanities and Social Studies at Meadow Park Middle School. 

In the coming weeks, Angela and Lauren will talk with a number of educators whose efforts lead to strong connections between schools and the communities that they serve. Listeners will learn ways to serve our students both in and outside the classroom. 

Educators interested in learning more about community schools are encouraged to consult the resources below. They may contact Dave Greenberg at dgreenberg@new.org and Angelia Ebner at aebner@nea.org for more information. 

Resources:

Angela Vargas, OEA Member Spotlight 

What are Community Schools?

5 Steps to Kickstarting Community Schools in Your District

Institute for Educational Leadership Community Schools Coalition 

NEA Community School work 

OEA Grow is a proud member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network