Dr. Salam Noor, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), visited the McMinnville School District this week. ODE officials asked to observe district classrooms to “recognize the great work of students and educators.”
At Wascher Elementary, Dr. Noor heard about district-wide practices from Superintendent Maryalice Russell, and Principal Kourtney Ferrua helped him see those practices in action by visiting the classrooms of Alese Cochran (third grade); Barbara Curtis (preschool); Sara Jacobs (fourth grade); and Emily Park (fifth grade). He observed student use of technology and heard about district instructional strategies and how schools use relationships to create a positive learning environment.
The ODE team said they wanted to see the “innovative programs and outstanding achievement” for which the McMinnville School District is known throughout the state.
Dr. Noor also visited McMinnville High School and heard from seniors in the Career Pathway programs talk about their experiences and plans for the future. The ODE team also took a quick tour of MHS’s Engineering & Aerospace Sciences Academy (EASA) at the Evergreen Space Museum.