Cascade Opportunity Center emphasizes writing, engagement and restorative responses to trauma

A presenter from the Cascade Opportunity Center outlined three principal goals: increase student writing proficiency for diploma requirements, adapt AVID or notebook strategies to an online setting, and improve student engagement and attendance through a behavior matrix and restorative practices.

"The 1st goal, we wanted to focus on writing... the staff at Cascade Opportunity Center will identify and increase usage of student engagement strategies in their daily classroom practices," the presenter said. They described practical steps including cold writes to establish baseline data, staff training through Attendance Works, and a locally developed behavior matrix used to respond to attendance and conduct concerns. The presenter also described restorative approaches to behavior (addressing root causes rather than sanctioning symptoms) and said the center had one student with traumatic prior experiences for whom a restorative, individualized approach was more effective than punitive responses.

Board members asked what the board could do to support the center beyond funding; presenters asked for visibility, occasional visits and acknowledgement of staff work.