ESD 112

10/22/2026

This month, we are welcoming new leaders who stepped into superintendent roles across our ESD 112 region for the 2026-27 school year.

Today, we are welcoming Dr. Ricardo “Rocky” Torres-Morales. Dr. Torres-Morales joins Vancouver Public Schools with experience as an educator and administrator in school systems across the country. He began his career as a bilingual special education teacher in New York City and later served as a school administrator in Cleveland. Most recently, he served as associate superintendent for Seattle Public Schools.

Torres-Morales has worked extensively in multilingual education, curriculum, restorative practices, instruction and community engagement. He has also coached educators and led professional development focused on supporting diverse learners and improving student achievement. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Torres-Morales to this role!

10/22/2026

Thank you to The Daily News for spotlighting the STEPS program and its amazing impact on students with disabilities and our local communities!

What comes after high school? For 56 students with disabilities from seven local districts, a Longview program is helping answer that question. ⤵️ Find a link to the story in the comments.

10/21/2026

Local law enforcement leaders, school district representatives and students came together yesterday morning at ESD 112 to launch Report, Don’t Repost: Choose Care Over Clicks, a new regional initiative encouraging community members to report concerning online content rather than share it on social media.

The news conference brought together representatives from the Clark County Sheriff's Office, Washington State, Vancouver Police Department, CRESA (Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency), ESD 112 and Clark County public school districts to share a unified message: When you see something concerning online, report it to someone who can help rather than reposting it.

“When a concerning post gets shared over and over, it can become much harder to trace where it started and determine what’s actually happening,” said Clark County Sheriff John Horch. “We know people often share these posts because they want to protect others, but the most helpful thing you can do is screenshot the concerning post and report it directly to law enforcement. That gives investigators the details they need to assess the situation and take action.”

The grant-funded initiative was developed in response to an ongoing challenge facing schools across the region: the rapid spread of online threats, rumors and misinformation.

“Our students deserve to feel safe and supported at school, and our staff need accurate information so they can respond quickly,” said John Anzalone, superintendent of Camas School District. “By reporting concerns instead of reposting them, students and families become important partners in keeping students safe.”

Addi Junke, 11th grade student at Prairie High School, spoke at the news conference about why it is more helpful to report concerning social media content than share it with friends.

“As students, we want to look out for our friends, but forwarding a post isn’t always the best way to do that,” said Juhnke. “Even if you’re not sure how serious something is, telling a trusted adult or reporting it can make a much bigger difference than sharing it with more people.” Battle Ground Public Schools

Read the story in the ESD Newsroom by clicking the link in our story today, or by visiting our website.

10/20/2026

This month, we are introducing new superintendents to our ESD 112 region!

Today, we are welcoming Gail Moore. Moore brings 20 years of education experience to her new role as interim superintendent of Roosevelt School District. Her career includes classroom teaching, instructional coaching, K-12 mathematics curriculum leadership and school administration.

Moore is passionate about the opportunities small rural schools provide and reducing barriers to mathematics and STEM learning. She is focused on building relationships with students, staff, families and community partners while strengthening teaching and learning.

Meet all of the new superintendents in our ESD newsroom: www.esd112.org/news/meet-the-new-superintendents-2026/

10/19/2026

Drive-through Drug Take Back is happening this Saturday, October 24!

Safely dispose of unused or expired medications at participating drop-off locations in Clark and Klickitat counties. Prevent Coalition

What you can bring:
💊 Prescription medications
🧴 Over-the-counter medications
💧 Pills, liquids and inhalers
🚫 Please do not bring sharps.

Drop-off locations:
📍 Battle Ground Police Department
📍 Clark County Sheriff’s Office La Center Precinct — 105 W 5 St., La Center
📍 Ridgefield Police Department
📍 Washougal Police Department
📍 Walgreens — 2939 Ocean Beach Highway, Longview
📍 Klickitat County Courthouse — 205 S. Columbia St., Goldendale

Proper disposal helps prevent misuse, overdose, and accidental poisoning. It also keeps medications out of landfills and waterways. For more information, check out the link in our story today, or visit our website.

10/16/2026

A free screening of the film "Counted Out" is playing this Monday, October 19 at the Liberty Theater in Camas! Counted Out is a powerful documentary exploring how math shapes opportunity, democracy, and everyday life. We hope to see you there! The first 100 attendees will receive a $10 food voucher. Clock hours are also available for attending this event (visit our website for more information on PDEnroller).

10/15/2026

We are excited to welcome leaders who stepped into superintendent roles across our ESD 112 region for the 2026-27 school year.

Today, we are welcoming Doug Dearden. Dearden returns to a familiar role in Trout Lake School District, a community he has been part of for nearly 40 years. He first joined the district in 1987 as a history and physical education teacher before becoming superintendent in 2003. He served in that role until retiring in 2019 and has now returned to lead the district.

Dearden’s priorities include supporting the whole child, providing innovative learning opportunities, developing and retaining strong staff, responsibly managing district resources and maintaining close connections with the Trout Lake community.

Meet all of the new superintendents in our ESD newsroom: www.esd112.org/news/meet-the-new-superintendents-2026/

10/14/2026

This month, we are welcoming leaders who stepped into superintendent roles across our ESD 112 region for the 2026-27 school year.

Today, we are excited to introduce Stephanie Leitz to Wahkiakum School District. Leitz brings 30 years of education experience, including 26 years with Wahkiakum School District. She began her career as an elementary special education teacher in Longview and joined Wahkiakum in 2001 as a kindergarten teacher. She went on to serve in several teaching roles before becoming principal of Wahkiakum High School, a position she held for 15 years.

Leitz has also mentored fellow school leaders and supported student leadership through the Association of Washington Student Leaders. In 2026, she received the Association of Washington School Principals’ Annalee Braley Membership Award in recognition of her support for students and fellow school leaders.

Meet all of the new superintendents in our ESD newsroom: www.esd112.org/news/meet-the-new-superintendents-2026/

10/13/2026

Camas High School junior Shaunak Deshpande is helping local educators turn outdoor school grounds into science classrooms. Camas School District

Last week, Deshpande and Ken Pitts, youth supervisor for Vancouver Audubon Society, led a hands-on workshop called “Birds as a Window to Science” for local elementary and middle school teachers at Discovery High School in Camas. The workshop explored how birdwatching can help students build observational skills, collect real-world data and learn about science.

“You don’t have to travel far or have expensive equipment to learn about birds. I want to help teachers give students the opportunity to discover the wildlife right outside their classrooms,” said Deshpande.

Deshpande also founded Cameraderie, a Vancouver Audubon birding, wildlife, and nature photography group for youth ages 8-18. As a youth volunteer, he has secured business sponsors, hosted fundraisers, maintained Instagram and pages for the program and led bird walks at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Now, Deshpande is extending those efforts into local classrooms, helping teachers introduce more students to birding and hands-on science.

Read more in the ESD newsroom: www.esd112.org/news/camas-student-brings-birding-lessons-to-local-classrooms/

10/12/2026

Congratulations to Dana Wilson, Multilingual Learner Paraeducator at Washougal School District, named 2026 State Classified School Employee of the Year! 🌟

Since 2017, Dana has been a trusted advocate for multilingual learners and their families, helping students feel supported, seen, and ready to learn. Her impact on school culture and community goes far beyond the classroom.

Congratulations to Kennewick School District multilingual learner kindergarten teacher Kori Cannon and Washougal School District multilingual learner paraeducator Dana Wilson. Cannon is the 2027 State Teacher of the Year. Wilson is the 2026 State Classified School Employee of the Year.

“Public education is about providing access and uplift to all students and their families,” said State Superintendent Chris Reykdal. “Kori Cannon and Dana Wilson work in diverse communities with students who may be learning English or speak a language other than English at home. Their commitment to building structures and systems to support these students benefits everyone in the community and is exactly what we should be doing in public education."

Cannon and Wilson received the honor earlier today at the annual Educator of the Year Awards.

More information: https://ospi.k12.wa.us/about-ospi/news-center/news-releases/kori-cannon-named-2027-state-teacher-year-and-dana-wilson-named-2026-classified-school-employee-year


Educational Service District 123 ESD 112