For a superintendent, summer vacation isn’t just about relaxation.
Oregon City School District Superintendent Dr. Dayle Spitzer spent her summer preparing for a new school year and a capital construction bond campaign.
“Teachers start in late August, which means administrators start in early August, which means we’re training and getting ready in July, so people frequently say, ‘What’d you do for the summer?’ And I say, ‘All week of it?’” said Spitzer.
She did have the chance to attend her own kids’ graduations from the University of Oregon and catch up on some learning of her own. Specifically, she attended a conference on education science and technology. In the past, only a handful of the conference’s sessions covered artificial intelligence in education; now half of the sessions cover AI.
“The three areas that I probably learned the most about this summer would be AI, which would be number one. I’ve been learning a lot about bonds, bond rates and just how those calculations work. Then, I would say probably the third thing I’ve been learning a lot about is career and college. More about the high-wage, high-demand careers in the state of Oregon and nationally and this whole area of stackable credentials,” said Spitzer.
An important vote in November
In July, the Oregon City School Board announced the new capital construction bond to improve Oregon City’s six elementary schools would be up on the November ballot. This is the third phase of the improvement plan that started with the new Oregon City High School back in 2000.
“I think in general, school systems should be good stewards of their resources and should be in a cycle of looking at their schools and facilities,” said Spitzer. “When I came in, that was already in the works, so I was able to sit in and kind of learn as a collaborator and as a support for the work that our community was doing. I think as a new superintendent, it’s been really important for me to be able to be part of the bond advisory group because I exist to serve the community and the students that exist in this community. So the most important thing I can do is listen to what stakeholders are saying so that I have an informed lens on leading.”
A portion of the bond funds raised would go toward improvements of Career and Technical Education spaces in addition to the elementary school improvements. Spitzer added that continuing to grow the relationship with Clackamas Community College, with a campus right across the street from OCHS, is an important component of fostering those college credit opportunities for students.
Moving away from a college-only mindset — instead thinking about college and career paths in conjunction — is important to Spitzer. When members of the class of 2025 receive their diplomas at Pioneer Memorial Stadium in the spring, she hopes that they feel comfortable in their next steps.
“I’ve worked with high school for a long time,” said Spitzer. “I want kids to graduate and have multiple potential plans after they leave. For a lot of my career, when I would talk to kids, I’d say, ‘You’re graduating, what’re you going to do next?’ They’d say, ‘I’m gonna go to college.’ Great What do you think you’re going to study? ‘I don’t know, I don’t really know why I’m going to college.’ And that’s a miss on our part.”
Other priorities for 2024-25
The beginning of a new school year is also an opportunity to review existing policies and the district’s strategic plan.
One of the practices that’s changing at OCHS is how students are expected to behave with cell phones during the school day. As at neighboring school districts, such as North Clackamas School District and Lake Oswego School District, new cell phone restrictions are meant to keep phones off campus.
“This came out of a conversation with teachers and with some student groups,” said Spitzer. “They are launching this fall a bell to bell, off and away cell phone practice. So kids can still be on their cell phones after class, they can be on their cell phones in the morning, at lunch, but during a class period it’s off and away.”
Spitzer added that the school board did discuss approving an official cell phone policy for the entire district, but felt that their technology expectations already covered distractions from personal electronic devices.
“Personally, it’s about teaching good practices as a human being with cell phones,” she added.
While the district’s five-pillar strategic plan goes through less review in the intervening years between new plans, Spitzer said she’s always thinking ahead to the next strategic plan and helping each school’s improvement plan relate to one of the pillars.
Those five areas are instructional excellence, career and college, robust systems of belonging and well-being, engaged communities and safe and engaging learning environments.
“I hold that plan near and dear to my heart and I feel like that’s what I’m called to do as a leader,” she said.
Beyond just improving the career and college connections with CCC, she discussed a new math curriculum and evaluation system that should help improve assessment scores in the district and help staff address students’ specific needs.
“I want students to feel confident in knowing themselves and knowing which potential career and college paths are ahead of them so that they can adjust and flex as they move forward to be happy and productive and contributing members to our community,” she said.
The 2024-25 school year also marks the 150th anniversary of OCSD. To celebrate, the district plans on going all-in: a parade, fireworks and an unforgettable homecoming game.
“One of the things I think is unique about Oregon City is we have so many people who have deep, deep roots here,” said Spitzer. “They went to school here, their kids went to school here, their grandchildren, their parents — just being able to celebrate those deep roots.”
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