We’re pleased to introduce you to Jessica O’Donel.

Jessica is an ESL teacher of 14 years at McKinley Elementary in Beaverton, OR. She’ll be our host when the bus rolls through Beaverton in May of 2023. We asked her to tell us a bit about herself, her school, and her students.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
The students. I love them. I love their curiosity, resilience, perseverance, and joy—and being a part of their moments of learning, discovery and success.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL MAKES YOU PROUDEST?
The way all the staff help each other, how everyone goes above and beyond to create a joyful learning environment. I also am proud of the diversity at my school and how each culture, language, and background is celebrated.

WHAT DO YOU WISH PEOPLE BETTER UNDERSTOOD ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FACING TITLE I SCHOOLS?
I don’t think in general the public realizes the extra load that Title I schools face meeting the basic needs (physical, mental, social-emotional) of students in addition to the academics. I also don’t think they realize the inequity of adult support: there is less staff and fewer adult volunteers in proportion to the student needs, which are often greater than at non-Title I schools.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL?
Our school is located in a “book desert,” and during the pandemic, myself and a group of teachers went door-to-door to hundreds of apartments delivering books each week so kids would have books at home. As in-person school has resumed, about 75% of our students are not reading at grade level. Over the past year since then, the reading coaches and ESL teachers have worked on putting together a lending library at our school. Myself and a few other teachers purchased most of the books with our own money through FirstBook. We are working to get books that are diverse and representative of our students.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SCHOOL TRADITIONS?
The Parade of Books during Read Across America week in March! Staff and students dress up to represent their favorite books and we have a fun assembly and read-in day.

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We applaud and appreciate Jessica and all her dedicated colleagues for working to connect kids with books and the joy of reading.

We cannot wait to meet them, the students, and all the rest of the McKinley community later next year!