Supe‘s On! With Dr. Steven Cook

What It’s like to be a School Resource Officer

What does a School Resource Officer do? Superintendent Steven Cook talks with longtime School Resource Officer Amy Ward from Bend Police Department about her day-to-day duties, how she collaborates with Bend High Principal Chris Reese, and why relationships are at the heart of everything she does. 

It’s OK to reach out for help

In this episode, Superintendent Steven Cook learns about a key local resource for mental health support for students – YouthLine, a free teen-to-teen crisis support and help line. Dr. Cook talks with two of YouthLine’s local student volunteers who share the kind of issues and challenges they are hearing from students, how youth today are breaking the stigma of reaching out for help and what’s giving them hope right now. This is part 2 in a series on student mental health. 

Note: This podcast episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, mental health illness and grief. You are advised to refrain from listening to the podcast if you may be adversely impacted to these topics.

If you or someone needs mental health support, reach out:

First Step App, firststeporegon.org

Deschutes County crisis line - 541-322-7500 ext. 9 (bilingual)

Oregon YouthLine (a free, confidential teen-to-teen crisis and help line; teens are available 4 to 10 p.m. daily; adults available all other times) 1-877-968-8491 or text teen2teen to 839863 (bilingual)

National Suicide Prevention hotline: English 1-800-273-8255 and Español - 1-888-628-9454

Many other resources available on District Student Mental Health website also available en Espańol

BONUS: Snow is here! How to know if school is in session

Snow is here! Learn how to find out if school is in session. In this bonus clip, learn how we decide whether to delay or close schools during inclement weather (staff hit the roads at 3 a.m.!) and find out how to learn about those decisions as soon as they happen. Featuring Transportation Director Kim Crabtree and Superintendent Steven Cook.

BLConnect: https://bls.fyi/connect

My Stop: https://bls.fyi/mystop

NOTE: This is a short excerpt from an interview Superintendent Steven Cook conducted with Transportation Director Kim Crabtree earlier this year. Listen to the full episode now

Supporting Student Mental Health

In this deep dive, Superintendent Steven Cook talks with two dynamic school counselors about why this time of year can be challenging for some families, finding our strengths, how to talk to teens about serious issues and why our students make them hopeful for the future. Thank you to Bend Senior High School’s Christine Ewing and La Pine High School’s Kelsey Jaeckel for sharing your stories and passion for supporting students with listeners.

Note: This podcast episode may cover sensitive topics including but not limited to suicide, mental health illness and grief. You are advised to refrain from listening to the podcast if you may be adversely impacted to these topics.

Resources highlighted during episode:

• First Step App
• Deschutes County Stabilization center
• Deschutes County crisis line - 541-322-7500 ext. 9 (bilingual)
• Oregon Youthline (a free, confidential teen-to-teen crisis and help line; teens are available 4 to 10 p.m. daily; adults available all other times) 1-877-968-8491 or text teen2teen to 839863 (bilingual)
• District Student Mental Health website also available en Espańol
• How to help a friend resource
• Partners in Care
• Dougy Center
• The Trevor Project - Crisis intervention and suicide prevention for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth ages 13-24
• WeRNative
• National Suicide Prevention hotline: English1-800-273-8255 and Español - 1-888-628-9454

Many other resources available on District Student Mental Health website also available en Espańol

Note: BRYT, mentioned by Christine Ewing during the episode, is the name of the organization that Bend-La Pine Schools is partnering with to build our Student Success Program at each of our school sites. Middle and high school students and families can reach out to counselors for support; elementary school students and families can reach out to school administrators. 

 

Every Student Belongs and the Importance of Uncomfortable Conversations

Today on the Supe’s on!, Dr. Steven Cook talks with Kinsey Martin, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, about new Every Student Belongs legislation, the difference between bias and hate, pushing back on the notion that our community isn’t diverse, and the importance of empathy and staying at the table during uncomfortable conversations. 

Preparing for Inclement Weather and What It‘s Like Driving a School Bus

With cold, blustery weather on the horizon, it’s a good time to get prepared for inclement weather. Today on the Supe’s On! Podcast, Superintendent Cook talks with our Transportation Director Kim Crabtree about how we make decisions about when to call snow days and how our drivers prepare for inclement weather of all kinds. Learn what it’s like behind the wheel, the numerous ways Crabtree and the crew have adapted during the past two years and what’s making her hopeful for the future. 

Executive Chef Takes us Behind the Scenes

Did you know Bend-La Pine Schools has its very own Executive Chef? On this episode Tracie Surgeon takes us into the high tech production kitchen at Bend High, where she and Superintendent Steven Cook talk supply chain issues, buying local, the surprisingly sophisticated palates of kindergartners and why she is proud to be called THE Lunch Lady. Plus the pride she feels of preparing to feed from-scratch chili and cornbread to 1,200 community members at Caldera's ribbon cutting Oct. 21.

Fruit Math and Four Square: Dr. Cook Learns About Life As a Fifth Grader

Fruit math and four square: 

Today, in a change of pace, Superintendent Cook goes back to school and gets a taste of what fifth grade at Amity Creek is like thanks to tour guide Quinn. He learns about fruit math, the importance of four square and finds out when Quinn would advise “don’t bite yourself!” 

Directors are ready for the first day

Director of Schools play a critical role for our schools – learn what these folks do, their vision for what challenges lie ahead, unforgettable first days and whether they think families and staff can dare to get excited for the first day. Thanks to Juan Cuadros, Tammy Doty, Katie Legace and Skip Offenhauser for joining Dr. Cook to share their insights.

 

 

Return to School Planning Series Part 3

For part three of Dr. Cook's series on Return to School Planning, we flipped the script a bit and instead of Dr. Cook conducting the interview, he is interviewed by Alandra Johnson, Assistant Director of Communications for Bend-La Pine Schools. Alandra and Dr. Cook have a good conversation about how the district is preparing for school in the fall, with information on the district's Continuation of In-Person Learning plan which includes information on masks, vaccinations, quarantines, and much more.