A new school year with guest Deputy Superintendent Lisa Birk

In this episode of the Supe’s On! podcast, Dr. Cook sits down with Deputy Superintendent Lisa Birk. Dr. Birk is new to this role but has been a leader in our district for 13 years, including at Bear Creek Elementary, Pacific Crest Middle School and Juniper Elementary. Primary responsibilities of the Deputy Superintendent include supporting the planning and coordination of district-wide educational programs.

In their discussion, Dr. Cook and Dr. Birk explore the district’s mission of “educating thriving students” and what that looks like in our classrooms. They also address why Bend-La Pine Schools emphasizes thriving teachers and staff as an essential component of helping students to thrive in our schools. Our theme for this new school year is “You bee-long,” and that means our students and employees should feel they are part of their school community. This episode also touches on some of the questions families have as the 2024-25 school year begins, from student transportation to the expansion of no-cost breakfast and lunch districtwide, as well as how parents and guardians can monitor and support their students’ academic progress, and our stance on student cell phone and personal technology.

(Theme music by Zakhar Valaha)