Stronger Together: Advancing Oregon’s Charter Schools: Full Schedule

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9:30am PST

AI Didn’t Break Our Schools—It Exposed Them: A Leadership Framework for Responding to AI in Charter Schools

Thursday November 5, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PST

As AI tools rapidly reshape student behavior, many schools have responded with stricter controls, surveillance, and reactive policies. But what if AI isn’t the problem—it’s the signal?

This session shares how one charter school responded to widespread AI misuse not by doubling down on enforcement, but by redesigning systems. Participants will explore a practical, leadership-focused framework that addresses AI at four levels: governance, short-term control, capacity building, and instructional redesign.

Attendees will leave with a clear implementation roadmap, examples of policy and program shifts, and strategies to move their school culture from “AI as a threat” to “AI as a catalyst for better learning design.”

Speakers

Kieffer Tarbell

Teacher, Metro East Web Academy (MEWA)

Kieffer Tarbell is an educator and program designer at Metro East Web Academy who has led the development of a school-wide response to AI integration, including policy creation, student programming, and instructional redesign. His work outside of teaching online science classes, focuses... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PST
East Willamette Room, 1st Floor 1000 Valley River Way, Eugene, OR 97401

Breakout Session

9:30am PST

State School Fund 101 and Charter School Finances

Thursday November 5, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PST

West Willamette Room, 1st Floor

SSF basics – the moving target for almost three years:
- Who, what, when, where and why
Why do we have a charter rate and why is this important to understand?
Charter schools and transportation funding
Q&A

Speakers

Mike Witfong

School Finance and School Facilities Administrator, Oregon Department of Education

Mike Wiltfong has worked for the Oregon Department of Education since 2006 and is currently the School Finance and School Facilities Administrator. He has held a variety of interesting positions over the years, working on education policy and administering numerous grants for both... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PST
West Willamette Room, 1st Floor 1000 Valley River Way, Eugene, OR 97401, USA

Breakout Session

10:40am PST

Navigating Emerging Legal Risks for Oregon Charter Schools: Religious Neutrality, Vendor Relationships, and Public Procurement Compliance

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:40am - 11:55am PST

West Willamette Room, 1st Floor

Oregon charter schools operate in an increasingly complex legal environment where constitutional requirements, statutory obligations, and day-to-day operational realities frequently intersect. This session will provide a practical legal update on two areas presenting significant compliance risks for charter schools.

First, the session will address the evolving legal landscape surrounding religious neutrality in public charter schools. Recent federal and state developments have emphasized that public entities may not discriminate against organizations solely because of their religious identity. At the same time, charter schools remain constitutionally obligated to ensure that students receive a secular public education free from religious instruction, worship, or proselytization. This portion of the presentation will explore how schools can lawfully contract with faith-based organizations while maintaining appropriate safeguards and oversight. The presenters will also discuss Oregon's unique statutory framework under ORS 327.109, which authorizes investigations and funding consequences when charter schools are alleged to be involved in religious activity, and will examine unresolved legal questions regarding the statute's procedural protections and potential due process concerns. Recent national developments involving religious charter schools and faith-based service providers will be discussed to help school leaders evaluate risk and develop practical compliance strategies.

Second, the session will provide a practical overview of Oregon public procurement requirements applicable to charter schools. Procurement obligations are frequently overlooked until a contract is challenged, an audit identifies deficiencies, or a sponsoring school district raises concerns regarding compliance. We will review common procurement requirements, competitive solicitation thresholds, exceptions, contract approval procedures, and frequent mistakes observed in charter school operations. Participants will leave with practical guidance for evaluating vendor relationships, documenting procurement decisions, and reducing legal and financial risk.

Designed for charter school administrators, board members, business managers, and authorizers, this session will focus on real-world scenarios, practical compliance tools, and emerging legal developments affecting Oregon charter schools.

Speakers

Sarah Einowski

Of Counsel, Jordan Ramis PC

Sarah comes to private practice after working in education and understands what it is like day-to-day in Oregon's public schools. She brings her specific education background and deep legal knowledge to her representation of public charter schools.

Matthew Lowe

Partner, Jordan Ramis PC

Matt has been representing public charter school for over 25 years and has a depth of knowledge related to nonprofits generally and public charter school in particular.

Forming and operating a public charter school comes with challenges, including the multiple state and federal laws and regulations that apply. We help our clients navigate through this unique process from the initial charter agreement and negotiation, to advising and drafting policies... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:40am - 11:55am PST
West Willamette Room, 1st Floor 1000 Valley River Way, Eugene, OR 97401, USA

Breakout Session

10:40am PST

Stop Paying for Chaos: Cleaning Up Your School’s Tech Stack

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:40am - 11:55am PST

East Willamette Room, 1st Floor

Many schools are not overspending on technology because they have too many tools. They are overspending because systems have grown without clear ownership, evaluation, or alignment. Over time, schools accumulate overlapping platforms, underused subscriptions, outdated contracts, and disconnected workflows that create confusion for staff and frustration for leadership teams.
This session provides a practical framework for auditing and simplifying a school’s technology ecosystem without disrupting operations. Attendees will learn how to identify redundancy, clarify ownership, evaluate tool effectiveness, and align technology decisions to operational priorities rather than convenience or habit.
Using real-world examples from charter school environments, presenters will demonstrate how schools can reduce inefficiencies, improve adoption, and create more sustainable systems without requiring large budgets or additional staffing.
Participants will leave with a Tech Stack Audit framework and practical tools that can immediately be used to evaluate current systems and guide future purchasing decisions.

Speakers

Jeff Huang

Director of Operations, Techabee

With six years in educational technology, I am passionate about using innovative tools to enrich the learning experience. My background blends technical skills and a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within the education sector. Throughout my career, I... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:40am - 11:55am PST
East Willamette Room, 1st Floor 1000 Valley River Way, Eugene, OR 97401

Breakout Session

1:45pm PST

State School Fund 301 training

Thursday November 5, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm PST

West Willamette Room, 1st Floor

SSF Forecasting
SSF Reconciliation and why does this matter – lessons learned
Finance and charter agreements
How to review district payments to charter schools – sharing Excel calculator that anyone can use
Q&A

Speakers

Mike Witfong

School Finance and School Facilities Administrator, Oregon Department of Education

Thursday November 5, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm PST
West Willamette Room, 1st Floor 1000 Valley River Way, Eugene, OR 97401, USA

Breakout Session

1:45pm PST

Stronger Together: Advancing Oregon Charter Schools Through Collaboration and Shared Impact

Thursday November 5, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm PST

East Willamette Room, 1st Floor

This presentation highlights how Oregon charter schools can deepen their collective impact by strengthening partnerships, aligning best practices, and building intentional systems of support across the campus and outside organizations. Rather than working in parallel, charter schools have an opportunity to operate as a connected network, leveraging shared strengths to improve outcomes for students statewide.

Speakers

Lisa Arellano & Katie Nunes

Lisa Arellano- CEO, Willamette Leadership Academy

Lisa Arellano is an educational leader and charter school advocate dedicated to expanding opportunities for students through innovative, student-centered learning. As CEO at Willamette Leadership Academy, she focuses on building strong community partnerships, supporting student success... Read More →

Katie Nunes

Site Director, Willamette Leadership Academy

Katie has worked in education for over 15 years as a classroom teacher and charter school administrator. During that time, Katie has focused on providing equitable access to education for all students and supporting innovative education to students who struggle to find their place... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm PST
East Willamette Room, 1st Floor 1000 Valley River Way, Eugene, OR 97401

Breakout Session

2:55pm PST

From Differentiation to Specially Designed Instruction: What SDI Really Looks Like in General Education

Thursday November 5, 2026 2:55pm - 3:55pm PST

West Willamette Room, 1st Floor

School leaders play a critical role in ensuring inclusive practices are implemented consistently and effectively across classrooms. While many schools emphasize differentiation to support diverse learners, differentiation alone does not always meet the requirements of Specially Designed Instruction (SDI). Leaders are often tasked with supporting teams in understanding what SDI looks like, how it connects to IEP goals, and how it can be embedded into daily instruction while maintaining grade-level expectations.

This session provides school leaders with a practical framework for understanding and supporting SDI implementation within general education settings. Participants will examine the distinction between differentiation, accommodations, modifications, and SDI through real-world examples and classroom scenarios, with a focus on what leaders should look for when supporting instructional practice.

Drawing from UCP Charter Schools’ experience embedding SDI into daily instruction, this session highlights how effective systems, collaboration, and clear expectations can support consistent implementation across classrooms. Participants will explore how SDI addresses disability-related needs through intentional changes to instruction, delivery, methodology, or content while preserving access to meaningful learning opportunities.

The session will also address common implementation challenges, including role clarity between general and special education teams, supporting teacher capacity, aligning instruction to IEP goals, and monitoring whether practices are feasible and effective within daily classroom routines.

Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of what makes instruction “specially designed,” along with leadership strategies and tools to strengthen inclusive practices, support staff implementation, and improve outcomes for students with disabilities

Speakers

Amanda Wise

Project Director, UCP Charter Schools

Amanda Wise, Project Director at UCP of Central Florida, brings more than 20 years of experience in education, with expertise in child development, data analysis, strategic planning, and exceptional student education. Her career includes leadership roles spanning school administration... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 2:55pm - 3:55pm PST
West Willamette Room, 1st Floor 1000 Valley River Way, Eugene, OR 97401, USA

Breakout Session

2:55pm PST

Retaining Great Teachers Through Financial Confidence: Helping Educators Understand PERS and Retirement

Thursday November 5, 2026 2:55pm - 3:55pm PST

East Willamette Room, 1st Floor

Teacher retention is one of the greatest challenges facing schools today, yet one of the most overlooked retention tools is helping educators and staff understand their long-term financial future. Many school staff members enter the profession with little understanding of retirement systems or how career decisions impact their financial stability. This uncertainty can contribute to an early departure from the profession.

This session helps school leaders understand Oregon's Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) so that the can train their staff. It explores how school leaders can improve teacher retention by providing practical education and transparency around retirement benefits, specifically focusing on Oregon’s Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Participants will learn how helping educators understand concepts such as vesting, tier systems, retirement calculations, IAP accounts, and years-of-service value can create stronger long-term commitment and morale.

The presentation will also share practical strategies schools can implement immediately, including retirement workshops, onboarding conversations, mentorship around financial planning, and building a culture where educators feel informed and supported in their future.

Attendees will leave with actionable ideas to help teachers feel more financially secure and motivated to remain in education for the long haul.

Speakers

Sheryl Zimmerer

Executive Director, Logos Public Charter School

Sheryl Zimmerer is the Executive Director of Logos Public Charter School in Medford, Oregon. With years of experience in educational leadership and staff development, she is passionate about creating supportive school cultures that retain high-quality educators. Her work focuses on... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 2:55pm - 3:55pm PST
East Willamette Room, 1st Floor 1000 Valley River Way, Eugene, OR 97401

Breakout Session

Stronger Together: Advancing Oregon’s Charter Schools

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Stronger Together: Advancing Oregon’s Charter Schools

9:30am PST

Kieffer Tarbell

9:30am PST

Mike Witfong

10:40am PST

Sarah Einowski

Matthew Lowe

10:40am PST

Jeff Huang

1:45pm PST

Mike Witfong

1:45pm PST

Lisa Arellano & Katie Nunes

Katie Nunes

2:55pm PST

Amanda Wise

2:55pm PST

Sheryl Zimmerer

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