Updates from Cabinet

Cabinet members took some time away from the office to have a planning meeting on July 13. Jeffrey Niess, our new Executive Director of Specialized Student Services, shared his initial first impressions and his service philosophy. We also took a few moments to share with each other the accomplishments of our departments. As we listened to each person, you couldn’t help but feel proud to be part of such a great ESD family. A few highlights:

  • The ESD 112 Open Doors and Workforce programs have joined other community partners under one roof. Those ESD programs have moved to a new location with Partners in Careers and the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council to provide students “one-stop” resources. Open Doors, under the leadership of Kevin Johnson, saw a 125% increase in student outcomes this past year. Congrats to the Open Doors staff!
  • Our Insurance programs received 100% on TWO program audits. It doesn’t get much better than that – congratulations to Loy Dale’s department!
  • The synergy of the three divisions in Teaching & Learning is AWESOME. Together, the department provides direct services to nearly 7,000 kids aged birth through 21. With ESD-U launching this summer, a grant application completed for Head Start, and the restructuring of the Science Materials Center, our T&L programs keep on growing.
  • We’re receiving lots of positive feedback about our new ESD website, launched last winter. Congratulations to Laura Martin and Heidi Barnes for their continual work to keep the site dynamic and timely for ESD staff, school districts, and the general public.
  • Kudos to the ESD district business managers for working round the clock to get district budgets prepared under the new (and complicated) state funding formula!
  • The Human Resources department has been providing incredible support for ESD programs. There have been a number of new hires and a successful transition of Melissa Kreuder as HR Director.

Hope everyone is having a great summer!