Cascade School District Welcomes New Staff

After a week of trainings and preparations, on August 29, Cascade School District staff had an all-district Back to School meeting. The meeting was held outside Cascade High School in the late summer morning sun.

After School Board chair Trey Ising gave welcoming remarks, superintendent Dr. Tracey Beckendorf-Edou presented a slide show conveying major milestones from this past school year and summer, and looking forward to the possibilities of this year.

Veteran staff, side by side with brand new hires, could appreciate the strengths of the district to turn challenges into opportunities. Challenges ranged from COVID mandates and complicated protocols, to staffing shortages and severe weather.

Last year, the district emphasized and expanded outdoor learning, trained staff in suicide prevention, celebrated awards for student achievements, excelling teachers, coaches, and other staff, strengthened initiatives around art and recycling, had activities return to something close to normal, made a lot of community connections, continued to grow career exploration, support systems, and staff training opportunities.

Beckendorf-Edou ended the presentation emphasizing the strength of “Team Cascade,” where everyone’s talents can be utilized to help students learn and achieve individualized success.

After important HR topics, the newly hired nurse, Crystal Clabaugh, gave a clear and concise presentation about medical conditions such as diabetes and asthma, and also discussed the new school AEDs, thanks to Cascade Medical and Cascade Medical Foundation, and the continued need for quarantine and other procedures if one gets COVID.

Building leadership announced all of the new staff members to applause.

One of the last agenda items was a short presentation by Amanda Close, Education and Outreach Coordinator for Waste Loop, explaining about the mixed recycling procedures, and sharing the very exciting news that Peshastin Dryden Elementary will pilot the composting program for cafeteria food waste. PD principal Emily Ross added, a hint of humor with the truth, that PD was chosen because the school has the most waste (young children are given a tray of food without choice) and because Peshastin has the fewest bears.

The staff received lunch and then dispersed to prepare for the first day of school the following day.