With more than 20 years experience in education, Ann Vescio is prepared to lead the Athena-Weston School District into what comes next for public education, board president Scott Rogers said.
With a return to in-person, indoor learning dominating education news amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Weston Middle School welcomed the return of Outdoor School May 24-27.
MILTON-FREEWATER â Oregon schools faced stricter restrictions earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic that prevented them from moving to a hybrid schedule as fast as many Washington schools.
Now, however, the Milton-Freewater and Athena-Weston school districts are jumping to full days of in-person learning faster than most of their neighbors to the north.
The Athena-Weston district made the jump for the remainder of their students on Monday, April 5.
Younger Athena-Weston students have been back for full days for some time. However, the high school classrooms are too small to accommodate full classes if students need to sit 6 feet apart.
Now, Gov. Kate Brownâs decision to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and switch to 3 feet of distancing for students have allowed high schoolers to return as well.
ATHENA â The Athena-Weston School District will have a new leader this fall, but her name will be familiar to students and families.
Middle school Principal Ann Vescio will be taking over the superintendent position from retiring Laure Quaresma, the two women announced last week.
Quaresma will remain with the district part time for a year to serve as a mentor to Vescio.
Vescio takes over after being with the district since 2005.
A satisfying career
Quaresma is retiring after 42 years in education
Quaresma came to the Athena-Weston School District five years ago after a long career in Walla Walla, Washington. Quaresma had leadership roles at all levels â elementary, middle school and high school â in Walla Walla.
MILTON-FREEWATER â The Milton-Freewater and Athena-Weston school superintendents each sent letters to their studentsâ families on Monday, Jan. 4, in anticipation of an upcoming return to the classroom for students.
Under Gov. Kate Brownâs new policy, which she announced on Dec. 23, metrics saying when districts may reopen are now guidelines instead of mandates. That means the final decision is now made by the local school district in conjunction with its local health department.
Brown also stated she hopes students, especially elementary students, can begin returning to the classroom by Feb. 15.
In Milton-Freewater, some changes could occur as soon as Monday, Jan. 11.