RSD In Focus - Newsletter - October 1st, 2026

There was a lot of excitement at John Tuck Elementary as students and staff gathered for what they thought was a regular all-school assembly. Instead, the school came together to celebrate one of its own.

First grade teacher Julie Gilbertson was surprised with the news that she has been named the 2026-27 High Desert Regional Teacher of the Year, one of 17 educators selected across Oregon as Regional Teachers of the Year. The honor recognizes Gilbertson’s 20 years in education with the Redmond School District, including the past 11 years at John Tuck.

Gilbertson was nominated by a parent who highlighted the lasting impact she has had on students throughout her career.

“When considering a teacher to uplift, I think the energetic powerhouse of someone like Julie Gilbertson cannot be overstated,” the parent wrote. “Though she would never present herself or seek out such recognition, I believe she does it because that is who she is, at her core.”For Gilbertson, creating a classroom where every student feels welcome and valued is at the heart of her work.

“Creating a classroom environment where every student feels valued for their unique identity is more than a professional goal for me. It is a personal mission,” Gilbertson said. “I am driven to ensure my students never feel the need to shrink themselves. I believe that to see change, one must be an example for it.”

Superintendent Charan Cline said the recognition reflects Gilbertson’s dedication to students and the relationships she has built with families.

“It’s always special to see one of our own educators recognized for the incredible work they do every day,” Cline said. “Julie has made a lasting impact on students by creating a classroom where every child feels valued, respected, and comfortable being themselves.”

John Tuck Principal Dusty Porter said Gilbertson’s impact extends well beyond her classroom.

“Julie has a way of making every student feel like they belong and every family feel like they are part of our school community,” Porter said. “She brings so much energy, care and purpose to her work every day. This recognition is a wonderful reflection of the impact she has had on our students, our staff and our entire John Tuck community.”

Regional Teachers of the Year are nominated by students, colleagues, administrators, friends or family members and selected through a nomination, application and review process facilitated by Oregon’s 19 Education Service Districts. Educators are evaluated on leadership, instructional expertise, commitment to equity, community involvement, understanding of educational issues, vision and professional development.

As a Regional Teacher of the Year, Gilbertson will receive a $1,000 award through a partnership between the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Lottery. She is also a semifinalist for the 2026-27 Oregon Teacher of the Year, which will be announced later this fall.

We are incredibly grateful to the Dry Canyon Arts Association for its generous $40,000 contribution to support Jump Start Art in our elementary schools!

The check was presented at Terrebonne Community School in front of the school’s beautiful mural, created by Artist in Residence Judy Rosenthal. The contribution will help bring more opportunities for students to explore, create and connect through the arts.

Redmond School District deeply appreciates the partnership and continued support of Dry Canyon Arts. Community partnerships like this make a meaningful difference for our students and help ensure the arts remain an important part of their school experience.

Thank you, Dry Canyon Arts Association, for investing in our students and in the power of creativity!

You can read more about it here. 

Redmond School District is celebrating the students and staff at Sage Elementary School and Tumalo Community School, which have been recognized as Bright Spots Top Schools in literacy by The 74.

This is a big deal. The Bright Spots program shines a national spotlight on schools where students are outperforming expectations in reading, identifying schools that are achieving standout results based on student achievement data. Sage and Tumalo were among a select group of schools across the country to earn this recognition.

Being named a Bright Spots school is a powerful reflection of the work happening every day in these classrooms. It represents students who are growing as readers, educators who are committed to helping every student succeed, and school communities that are making literacy a priority.

We are incredibly proud to see two RSD schools recognized on a national stage. Congratulations to the students, teachers, support staff and families at Sage and Tumalo who are helping make this achievement possible. This recognition belongs to all of you.

Looking for activities, events and resources happening in our community? The RSD Community Partners page is a central place to find community opportunities that may benefit students and families, including youth sports, fundraisers, events, support resources and more.

New opportunities are added throughout the year, so we encourage families to check the page regularly to see what’s happening in the community.

Community-submitted materials are reviewed to ensure they meet district guidelines before being posted. Please note that listings are not necessarily affiliated with or sponsored by Redmond School District.

On all Redmond School District websites, you can easily translate information into your preferred language. Just click the language icon next to the magnifying glass in the top-right corner of any page, select your preferred language, and the information on the page will be translated for you.

Work continues across Redmond School District as projects funded through the 2025 Capital Bond move forward at schools throughout our community. This summer brought progress on safety and security improvements, athletic facilities, building upgrades, cooling projects and new construction.

Several projects are now complete or nearing completion, while others will continue throughout the school year. Here’s a look at some of the work happening across the District.

We are grateful to the Redmond community for supporting the 2025 Capital Bond. Because of that support, work is underway to improve safety, security, learning environments and facilities across our schools. Thank you for investing in our students, staff and the future of Redmond School District.

Ridgeview High School and Tom McCall Elementary are the final two schools in the District to receive secure entry vestibules. These improvements provide an additional layer of security at the main entrance, helping create safer, more controlled points of entry for students, staff and visitors.

Tumalo Community School is an active construction zone this school year as work continues on an addition for middle school programs, along with renovations to the cafeteria. Construction will continue throughout the school year as the project takes shape.

Sage Elementary received an updated playground, providing students with an improved space for play and recreation.

Sage and Terrebonne Community School also received new cooling equipment to help keep students and staff comfortable during warmer weather. Two new chillers were installed outside Sage Elementary to improve cooling throughout the building.

Obsidian Middle School received several updates this summer, including improvements to the library with new carpet, tables and chairs. The school also received new ADA-accessible bathrooms and upgraded lighting.

The District’s transition program has found a new permanent home. The transition building is now located behind Redmond High School providing a dedicated space for transition students and their families.

Athletic facilities at both Redmond High School and Ridgeview High School received upgrades. New turf was installed on the baseball and softball fields, and Redmond High School’s softball field is being relocated next to the baseball field. Both Fields will also help with water conservation. 

Both schools also received new visitor bleachers, including ADA-accessible ramps. Ridgeview High School is also receiving upgraded tennis courts.

Redmond High School is the largest construction project in the District. Work on the main building will continue throughout the school year and into next summer, with the project remaining on track to reopen for the 2027–28 school year.

While construction continues on the main building, academic learning remains at Redmond High School with modular classrooms located behind the school.

Below are renderings showing what the upcoming modernization of Redmond High School will look like.

Do you know a Redmond School District student or staff member who deserves to be recognized?

Anyone can submit a nomination for the RSD Student & Staff Spotlight. Each month, we’ll highlight an individuals from RSD.

Tell us about someone who is making a difference, demonstrating outstanding character, supporting others, showing growth, or simply doing something worth celebrating.

Nominations are reviewed by a selection committee, and nominations not selected for the current spotlight will continue to be considered for future spotlights. You only need to nominate someone once during the school year.

Do you have something exciting happening in your classroom, a service project, or a fun event you’d like to share? Email rsdcommunications@redmondschools.org