Strategic Plan Voices

In the creation of our Strategic Plan, we formed a committee of over 40 different people from various perspectives in our district to provide their thoughts and dreams. Some of these committee members were our very own students. Austynn Jester-Feldsher was an eighth grader at Tumwata Middle School during this time. She has since moved to Oregon City High School and is attending as a freshman this year. Here is what she has to say about our Strategic Plan:

"I think that my favorite things that are coming with the Strategic Plan is that they are really trying to focus on college and career preparedness, they want a more diverse staff/faculty team and that they are actively getting the community more involved. It’s extremely important that they want to engage the community in various ways; some include having internships available for juniors and seniors, having the buildings open to the public for different events, and having other partnerships within the community. I believe that having good communal relations will improve not just OCSD but Oregon City as a whole. The more people find Oregon City a fun, safe place to be, the more people will move here, allowing us to have a more diverse environment, thus allowing us to have a more diverse staff. I love that they want young adults to leave high school feeling prepared for the world around them and not just know how to navigate their way around a school. 

Considering all the work that was put in creating the Strategic Plan I think the end result in 2027 will benefit the school district a lot. Once the plan comes to a wrap we will have a happier and safer environment for everyone involved. Students' grades will likely improve and they will have a better perception of themselves and their peers. New staff members will come with an understanding of how things are run. This will help create a more welcoming and safe environment for students. 

Last year when I was in 8th grade, it had been suggested by my principal to apply for the Strategic Plan Steering Committee. I am very grateful that I was able to have that experience of collaborating with adults (and students) to figure out how to make the school district better. It was really cool to feel like an adult, like I was making a change in my environment. I get that some adults feel like they don’t have the power to make a difference, but you really do have an impact on the generation before and after you. I believe it’s important for us to find a way to communicate with one another no matter what your role is in the community. "