COSA Seaside Conference 2019
Thursday, June 20 | 10:15 AM | Room Riverside C
Seaside, OR | Seaside Convention Center
Ryan Noss – Superintendent, Corvallis School District
Greg Harris – Principal, North Clackamas School District
Libby Miller – Executive Director of Middle Schools, North Clackamas School District
Jimmy Simpson, Jr. – Partnerships, YouthTruth
About the session
According to YouthTruth’s national Student Survey, only 1 in 2 secondary students enjoy coming to school most of the time. And only a third of learners rate their school culture positively. How can education leaders systematically improve school climate and social emotional well-being? How can we tap into the student experience to close achievement gaps by race, family income, and English Language Learner status? This panel features district and school leaders who have incorporated school climate data to increase engagement and improve relationships. We’ll provide a model for analyzing school climate data, and guiding productive conversations when the results are surprising. You’ll have the chance to share your experiences and insights, and leave with resources to nurture positive school climate and culture.
About the speakers
Ryan Noss
Ryan Noss has led Corvallis School District as superintendent since 2016. Prior to his appointment as superintendent, he served as the district’s Director of Teaching and Learning during the 2015-16 school year. Mr. Noss began his career in education in 1999 as a Special Education teacher in the Tigard-Tualatin school district where he taught for two years. He then taught three more years for the Lebanon Community Schools before working as Special Programs Consultant. He served for one year before accepting the position of Principal at the K-8 Pioneer School working in that capacity for four years. In 2009, he accepted the position of Administrator of Program and Student Support. These duties included: overseeing curriculum, instruction, assessment and special education for the district. He was promoted to Assistant Superintendent in 2011 and served in that role for four years before coming to the Corvallis School District.
Gregg Harris
Greg Harris is principal of Rowe MIddle School at North Clackamas School District.
Libby Miller
Libby Miller is executive director of middle schools at North Clackamas School District.
Jimmy Simpson, Jr.
Jimmy Simpson, Jr.’s passion for education, advocacy and public speaking has allowed him to reach thousands of people all across the country. He has presented on topics ranging from the restoration of marshes in southern Iraq to the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Before joining YouthTruth, Jimmy brought environmental education to San Francisco’s public schools as an outdoor science teacher where he taught Kindergarten through 5th grade and helped create an NGSS-aligned science curriculum. After teaching, Jimmy provided coaching and professional development to science teachers throughout the Bay Area. He has also served as an AmeriCorps and FEMA team manager to provide disaster relief services in New York, Maryland, and Missouri. Jimmy is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln with a BA in Environmental Studies and Anthropology.