“If you look at what you have in life, you'll always have more. If you look at what you don't have in life, you'll never have enough.” —Oprah Winfrey

It’s the crossroads moments in life when we are often reminded to slow down and look around. As these 15 educators say farewell to work and hello to the next phase of life, we thank them for their service and wish them a long and enjoyable retirement. We can also take a moment to hear their stories and learn from them. 

This year's 15 retirees have contributed an astounding 274 years of service to our agency. Whether they were here for 2 years or 34, each person listed below made a lasting impact on NWRESD. 

They collectively helped thousands of children and families over the years and though some were called to work directly with students and others were called to support that work, everyone’s efforts ensured students received the services they needed to thrive.  

“Every educator on this list has had a profound impact on our organization,” says Yolanda Coleman, incoming human resources director and current talent acquisition and retention administrator. “We thank them for answering the call of becoming an educator and helping students become their fullest version of themselves.”  

This year's retirees include: 

• Lisa Bates (2000)
• Susan Dishaw (1992-2007, 2022)
• Lynne Griffin (2021)
• Marie Groshans (1998)
• Michelle Guthrie (2009)
• Ann Hargraves (2021)
• Marie S. Johnson (1999-2007, 2018)
• Cynthia Jones (2009)
• Syd McGranahan (1998)
• Sharon Meeuwsen (2000)
• Claudia Ochoa (2001)
• Lesley Upham (2000-2005, 2008)
• Pam Robison (2015)
• Maggie Shumaker (1991)
• Debbie Simons (2021)

We hope you can join us for two upcoming retirement receptions:

• May 27 (4-6 p.m.) - Washington Service Center
• June 5 (3-4 p.m.) - Clatsop Service Center

Note: Not everyone wanted to be recognized with a write-up, but read on for the people who were eager to share their stories. 

Lisa Bates (2000)

Principal - Levi Anderson Learning Center

Lisa has worked for NWRESD’s social emotional learning schools for the past 25 years. She joined Pacific Academy in 2000 as a social worker and later worked as a mental health specialist. In both roles, she supported students and worked to create opportunities that were both innovative and relevant to them. 

She launched a teen Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) so students could learn about how to respond to emergencies and work together as a team. Beyond bringing her well-honed skills as a mental health specialist to her job, Lisa always went above and beyond to make sure every student felt heard, respected and part of our school community. 

Lisa's passion was creating safety in schools. She worked tirelessly in her efforts- often with nationally recognized organizations- to ensure the ESD was prepared in the case of an emergency. She also led a flight team at NWRESD for several years, supporting the crisis response both within the ESD itself and for our districts. 

Suicide prevention was another focus area for Lisa, and she led Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training workshops over the years.  

After earning her administrator’s license, she became principal at Levi Anderson Learning Center. While there, she brought a variety of programs to the students that had not existed before. She developed a “Saturday School” that brought guest speakers and educational opportunities to students who lacked the resources to leave campus. She also developed relationships with organizations to provide leadership and mentor opportunities for students. She was a fierce proponent of equity and inclusion and she always put students first.

Marie Groshans (1998)

American Sign Language Interpreter

Michelle Guthrie (2009)

School-Based Administrative Assistant - Levi Anderson Learning Center

Michelle worked for NWRESD for 16 years as a school-based administrative assistant at Levi Anderson Learning Center, and before that, she worked with the staff at the Lifeworks Day Treatment. Michelle was a vital member of every team she was on. Her positive and welcoming presence always made her a favorite member for everyone on the team. Michelle set an example of how to embrace every day with enthusiasm, kindness, humor and follow through. Her work with preparing for student graduation ceremonies was epic and memorable. Over the years, she helped to create many memorable moments for a lot of students and families.

What is your favorite memory?
A memory that I really enjoy, was getting the substitute call request early in the morning from Sharon Meeuwsen - back in the early days - 1999-2000. She was not only great to talk with; it was hard to tell her “no”. LOL!!  

It was a few years later that I finally got to meet her at the Washington Service Center. It was so nice over the years (after being hired) to have Sharon as a wonderful constant and friend in the ESD.

Can you share a few professional highlights?
I really enjoyed all the people I got to meet and work with over the years. It was always fun to see them at different meetings/gatherings and catch up on life. A common factor that we all had is that we were here for the kids.  

When you look back at your career, what are you most proud of?
When a new student arrived at Levi Anderson Learning Center through the St. Mary’s Home for Boys, I would request (or attempt to get) all previous education records and credits from previous schools and combine them into our one transcript. I wanted to make sure that when they left our program, the transcript was in order.

When friends would say, “oh, you have to go to work”?, I’d tell them, “no, I get to go to work!!” It was a great ride!!!! -Michelle Guthrie

Ann Hargraves (2021)

Professional Learning Specialist - Washington Service Center

Ann has worked as a professional learning coach for NWRESD’s instructional services team since 2021. Before coming to the agency, she worked for Hillsboro School District. During her time here, she has provided resources to district instructional coaches who work with classroom teachers on their instructional practices and focused on helping teachers incorporate TSEL into their classrooms. Emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, there was also a heavy need for social emotional and mental health support for students and teachers, so she hosted several sessions on supporting students and helping teachers maintain their own mental health. 

“My career began in 2002 and I have been serving educators, students, and families ever since. It has been a privilege to serve and learn from this work and life for 22 years.

Ann presents at the Oregon Association of Education Service District’s conference. Photos courtesy of Ann Hargraves. 

Ending this work at Northwest Regional has been "like a box of chocolates.” I never knew what I was gonna get from one year to the next. I like chocolate creams! My "box" contained: sending sweet, small wellness cases out to regional folks, creating an in-house team to host a well-deserved and needed retreat for our Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education colleagues, being part of the Instructional Coaching Network team that sponsored the magnificent Lori Cohen for two regional professional learning series, and supporting both the Loggers of Vernonia and the Gulls of Seaside with positive community work. It's been a flavorful time!

I started here in August of 2021, deep in the time of COVID accommodations. Only virtual work could be done in the region and desk/office work was done almost entirely from home. Back then the professional development was done all by Zoom. After one of my first virtual professional development sessions on well-being, I was invited to share it to the "whole house" of Oregon ESD superintendents in Sunriver, at their in-person 2022 spring conference! It was a very hot and relatively new topic at the time when we were all trying to cope with the pandemic. As I end my time here this year, it feels most appropriate to have presented at the 2024 Wellness Together Student Mental Wellness Conference in Anaheim, California, bookending my tenure.

In January 2023, Jenn Johnson and I revived and re-created the School Safety & Mental Health Summit with Kristin Souers as first keynoter for an all virtual, all-day regional professional learning. It was a spectacular success. We worked with an amazing team of colleagues led by Renae Iversen and served over 100 attendees electronically! Just amazing. This resurrection has borne lovely fruit each year since - remaining all virtual with 2024 Michael Essien and 2025 Dr. Han Ren as keynoters. It grows in attendance numbers every year.

Where I have found joy, hope, and life in my every day, however, is being a solid colleague, partner, coach and team player. Whether it was with my four supervisors or the eight fellow coaches I partnered up with, working together was always richer than working alone.

Ann at the Wellness Together Conference. 

One of the best things I've learned through my experiences with the ESD is that our rural and remote districts have teachers and administrators doing amazing, outstanding educational work! Whoops. Is my bias showing? Seriously. Wonderful and skilled people are doing the hard work "of growing where they are planted" and successfully caring, teaching, and growing students, staff, and families.” -Ann Hargraves

Special Education Teacher & Behavior Specialist - Cascade, Columbia and Pacific Academies

Cynthia Jones (2009)

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant - Warrenton-Hammond School District

Cynthia joined NWRESD in 2009 as a speech-language pathology assistant. She works in the Warrenton-Hammond School District providing speech therapy to students in elementary, middle and high school. Cynthia is appreciated for her ability to reflect and stay curious as we navigate the educational needs of our students. 

Below she identifies that “change is constant” and she is an educator that stays engaged through the end by engaging in self-paced book studies to better meet the needs of students in her community and providing historical NWRESD knowledge for our K-12 Speech Language Pathology team. 

Cynthia has been a constant beacon of support for the Warrenton-Hammond school community, and her presence will be missed this coming year.

Can you share a few professional highlights?
Being my third career, first as a commercial fisherman in Alaska, then a juvenile rehabilitation counselor, working as an speech-language pathology assistant has been an incredibly satisfying, sustainable and stimulating line of work. I would have to say, the  highlight of my career has always been the relationships I've developed with students and ESD staff.  

I'm most proud of my ability to work effectively with a number of different speech-language pathologists over the 16 years as an speech-language pathology assistant. Seven total!

What is your favorite memory?
My favorite memory would be some of the overnight inservices/trainings with fellow speech-language pathologists and speech-language pathology assistants, I've been able to attend.

What is something you’ve learned over the years you’d like to share with others?
I've learned that you have to stay flexible in your approach to therapy, relationships with staff and students, and from one year to the next. Change is constant. -Cynthia Jones

Sharon Meeuwsen (2000)

Facilities Support Specialist - Washington Service Center

Sharon has worked for NWRESD in variety of roles for the past 25 years. She started with our agency as substitute caller and home school secretary in 2000, and eventually became a facilities support specialist. In this role, she knows every facility we operate inside out and makes sure the buildings are not only up to code but also safe, comfortable and fully stocked. 

“I joined the NWRESD as the sub caller and home school secretary in 2000, filling absences for our Washington County sites starting at 6 a.m. every morning; I am sure I was equally  loved/hated by those early morning phone calls. I talked to many staff on a daily basis, and formed long lasting friendships with people I had never met face-to-face; it was always fun to meet them in person and see them…rarely did they look like what I imagined! In 2005, I stepped into the support position for the school-age director and offsite support for the PACE behavioral program; I have so much admiration for staff that work in programs to give highly impacted students a great education, and provide a community that believes in their success.   

A few years later when PACE moved to Forest Grove School District, facilities was added to my director’s plate, and eventually I became full time as facilities support specialist. I love the variety of working in facilities, ensuring staff have what they need to serve their students, being part of safety committees, 1st Aid/CPR/AED trainings, and maintaining all our sites. I’ve learned so much in this position, and loved being hands on with some of the requests; it was more fun than work to climb up the service ladder to the roof, climb down another into the vault to the backflow, and I even enjoyed cleaning out the warehouse every so often! One of my favorite memories was sneaking up onto the roof to watch the full eclipse….it was awesome!

I really love the day to day work I do, but designing our triple Privacy Room suite at WSC was something I am really proud of; we managed to create a welcoming and safe place for staff out of a single room, and my reward is that it is well used! Interacting and helping those in need has been a great experience, and I am probably going to miss it…most definitely the people, and I will hold them in my heart; when I started here I said I could work here until I retire - I made it!” -Sharon Meeuwsen

Claudia Ochoa (2004)

Spanish Language Translator/Interpreter - Beaverton Early Childhood Center

Claudia (left) with Andrew and his mom, Yola. Andrew is one of my most beloved students, Claudia says. Photos courtesy of Claudia Ochoa. 

Claudia has played a central role in providing these services over the past two decades to hundreds of families. 

Translating and interpreting in special education not only takes technical skills because the work involves a lot of medical jargon but also requires empathy and compassion because parents are finding out their child has a disability and then navigating through that experience. 

In addition to the work itself, Claudia has also mentored many translators and interpreters over the years. 

Claudia with her husband in Singapore.

Claudia with her two children and her husband riding camels at the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. 

Mi Camino: A Bilingual Heart in Special Education
 
As a proud Hispanic woman, my journey working with children with special needs has been deeply personal. It began long before any job title—rooted in my own upbringing, surrounded by strong family values, hard work, and a deep sense of community.
 
I grew up in a household where Spanish was our first language, where stories were told at the kitchen table, and where helping one another was simply part of life. Being bilingual doesn't just mean I could speak two languages—it means I could connect more deeply with families who, like mine, navigated the world between cultures. That connection has been one of the greatest gifts in my career.
 
One of the things I’m most proud of is being able to support Spanish-speaking families who often feel unseen or misunderstood in the special education system. I’ve had the honor of translating not just words, but emotions—bridging gaps between schools and parents, helping families advocate for their children with confidence, and ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

Claudia and her husband at the Taj Mahal in India.

There’s one memory that still makes my heart swell: a mother, newly arrived in the U.S., came to a meeting overwhelmed and unsure. After we spoke in Spanish, and I walked her through the process step by step, she took my hand with tears in her eyes and said, “Gracias por entenderme” (thank you for understanding me). That moment reminded me why this work matters.
 
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned and would share, it’s this: representation matters. When families see someone who understands their language, their culture, and their values, it creates trust. And when a child sees themselves reflected in someone who believes in them, it changes everything.
 
Over the years, I’ve learned something I wish everyone knew: love and patience can break barriers. You don't need to speak the same language to connect; you just need to be present, to listen, and to believe. Every child deserves to be seen, heard, and supported—just as they are.
 
This career has been full of challenges and beautiful moments. But above all, I carry my culture with pride, and I hope that through my work, every child and family I’ve met has felt empowered, supported, and most importantly—loved. -Claudia Ochoa

Maggie Shumaker (1991)

School Psychologist - Clatsop County

Debbie Simons (2021)

Chief Human Resources Officer - Washington Service Center

Debbie began her educational career during her senior year of high school when she worked half-time in Mrs. Peacore’s second grade classroom. She has held various titles during her educational career. These include substitute teacher, middle school teacher, alternative program teacher, volleyball and basketball coach, Title I coordinator and leadership and honor society adviser. 

She earned her administrator’s license in 1997 And worked as principal at Evergreen Elementary School in southern Oregon and Lincoln Savage Middle School also in southern Oregon. She was also director of human resources at both the Three Rivers and Medford school districts, and assistant superintendent of teaching and learning at Medford School District. 

Debbie joined NWRESD in August of 2021 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her first days on the job were long and meeting-filled and involved rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Since then, she says she’s learned about the tremendously wonderful and impactful footprint the ESD has on the region and the state. 

“I really enjoyed working closely with so many wonderful people who want the best for kids,” she says. 

Can you share a few professional highlights?  
I have had the unique opportunity to work with educators throughout the state who work in small districts, large districts and now the ESD.  I have seen the tremendous talent it takes to impact kids and their families and it is really incredible what educators do. I love, love, love kids - and to see light bulbs go off for them; or to see an impacted student communicate for the first time, or see a struggling student graduate and walk across the stage is something truly, truly wonderful to see.

When you look back at your career, what are you most proud of?  
I would like to think that I have made a difference to the profession, and more importantly to kids.  I have seen really tumultuous situations and hope that I have displayed calm, thoughtful and provided stability for staff while those situations are evolving. I also have been really, really lucky to work with truly extraordinary teams of people in every district I have worked in - and I am proud of the work we have done together.

What is your favorite memory?  
Oh there are so many!  My favorite student memory is a student with cerebral palsy who used a walker  - when I was his principal, I had to constantly chide him for “running” around the campus when he was a second grader.  Years later, we both had moved on - me to HR and him to high school. I saw him walk on the stage to get his diploma without a walker - and that memory is something I treasure always.

What is something you’ve learned over the years you’d like to share with others?  
This is a great question - I think early on, there is an unspoken judgement of how we see others.  That person doesn’t teach like me, I don’t like how that person does that thing. If I were in that role here is how I would do it - and at the end of the day; all of us have different brains and personalities. It is so important to appreciate differences in individuals and also in how the work is done as none of us came with an instruction book, nor do the kiddos we serve. If all of us were the same; how boring would that be?