Leadership Launch
Our COO team gathered on August 6th with all BLS administrators and office managers to refocus our energies on our mission/vision: Thriving Forward: Rooted in Purpose, Steady in Growth. Feedback from the Ops “speed dating” morning session was very positive. If we do it again next year, one aspect for us to address is how to get our team members to attend the other sessions to better understand what’s happening in the other operational departments
On August 7, our Ops team focused on the theme of Leading with Dignity, emphasizing that leadership is about people rather than tasks. We contrasted managing—focused on projects, deadlines, and control—with leading, which inspires, empowers, and builds trust. Both managing and leading are essential aspects of our work, but too often we get lost in task management and fail to devote sufficient time to leading our people.
At the heart of leadership is recognizing dignity as the inherent worth of every person—moving away from fear and power toward connection and well-being as motivators. Self-knowledge and insights play a critical role in shaping leaders’ ability to guide others, with life’s challenges, relationships, and risks serving as catalysts for growth. Overall, leadership is harder but more impactful than managing, requiring empathy, understanding, and a deep respect for human dignity.
In one-on-one with my direct reports, I will now include at least one self-reflective leadership question – and I encourage you to do the same with teams. Some examples may include:
- “Looking back over the past month, what’s one way you feel you’ve led others well.“
- “Over the past 30 days, what’s one leadership moment you’re most proud of, and one you’d handle differently if you could do it again?“
- “In the last month, where do you feel your leadership made the biggest difference for your team or colleagues?”
- “Thinking about the past 30 days, how have you helped others feel valued and supported in their work?”
- “What’s one new insight you’ve gained about yourself as a leader in the last month, and how might you apply it going forward?”
- “In the past 30 days, when did you feel most energized as a leader — and what contributed to that?”
Also on August 7, Jeannie Bloome from COREN (Central Oregon Regional Educational Network) led our teams through a KPI exercise. She will be joining us three to four times this year to build on that initial session, with the goal of developing two to three Key Performance Indicators in each of our respective areas.
Summer Reflections
On August 14, Kim, Scott McD, Scott B, and Doug shared the work their teams have been doing over the summer. I encourage you to visit this YouTube link and click on the timestamps below to view each department’s report:
- IT Department (27:46- 33:00)
- Safety Department (33:08 – 43:14)
- Transportation Department (43:27 – 50:01)
- Facilities Department – FDO/Maintenance/Custodial (55:25 – 1:04:20)
New Facilities Org Chart
On August 11, Rodger Moore joined our Ops leadership team as the new Director of Facility Operations. He will support the maintenance and custodial branches of the Facilities Department. Rodger will have offices at Wilson and Brinson and will split his time between both areas. Welcome, Rodger!
Our Sustainability Coordinator, hired last January, relocated to Missouri this summer, leaving the position vacant. Our team will work with HR to fill the role and determine where sustainability best fits into our organizational structure so it can have the greatest impact districtwide.
New Facility Request Software
If you have questions about the new facility request system, please contact Becky and Anne and they’ll be happy to assist you.
Back to School Gathering on August 26th
You and your teams are invited to the Maintenance Facility for breakfast before the Back to School virtual event at 8:30 am. Department leaders – Please RSVP on behalf of your teams so that Becky knows how much food to order. We will have improved video and sound for this year’s event.
HR Updated Requirement: Interviews for All Vacancies
In the past, Administrators and Supervisors were not required to conduct interviews when the number of applicants matched the number of vacancies. While this may have streamlined the hiring process, we have since identified it as a poor practice because it removes the opportunity to evaluate the applicant’s skills, knowledge, and ability to meet the demands of the role. This approach does not align with our commitment to selecting the most qualified candidates through a fair and thorough process.
Effective immediately, all candidates must participate in an interview before being considered for hire, regardless of the number of applicants or vacancies.
This ensures that:
- Each candidate demonstrates proficiency and readiness for the role.
- We maintain a consistent, equitable hiring process across the organization.
- Hiring decisions are based on observable qualifications and competencies.
This shift strengthens the integrity of our selection process and supports our goal of bringing the most capable talent into every position. Please plan accordingly when scheduling your hiring process.
If you have questions about this change, please call Ryan Kelling.
To Do’s (& one Don’t)
Breakfast Sign Ups: Please go to this link and sign up for 7 staff appreciation breakfasts this year.
Vector Safe Schools: Follow the instruction within the August 14th email and complete your trainings by October 31st.
2025/26 Non-Contract Calendars: Lisa Birk will be emailing a spreadsheet calendar by the end of the week to fill in indicating your planned non-contract time for the 25/26 school year. Please follow the instructions accordingly.
GCJ /GDJ-AR : Employee Work Schedules and Attendance Expectations: Familiarize yourself with this policy, which was revised last year, and partner with Triz delaRosa in HR regarding irregular employee attendance.
All Admin Emails: Please do not send all-admin emails. Instead, send an email to level leader (Tammy Doty, Karen Rush, Stephen Duval, Katie Legace) by Thursdays at noon with your department’s message. They will include it in their weekly elementary and secondary blogs.
