Ponderosa Middle School welcomed incoming 6th grade families Wednesday evening for a community information night focused on helping families prepare for the transition to middle school while also sharing new instructional and student support systems that will begin next school year.
Photo – Klamath Falls City Schools Executive Director of School Improvement Fred Bartels, left, during a question-and-answer segment at an Incoming 6th Grade Family Night hosted at Ponderosa Middle School this past Wednesday, May 27 where families were presented with a new instructional and student support system that will begin next school year called New Education System.
The event, held in the Ponderosa gymnasium, provided families with an overview of what students can expect as the school implements additional supports, staffing, and instructional systems designed to strengthen student learning, increase student engagement, and improve the overall school experience for students and families.
The evening also served as the district’s first large-scale public presentation outlining the work approved unanimously by the KFCS Board of Directors at the May 18 board meeting for both Ponderosa Middle School and Mills Elementary School.
For several years, district leaders have closely examined student achievement trends at Mills Elementary School and Ponderosa Middle School. Academic performance data revealed that many students were not meeting state benchmarks, particularly in mathematics, highlighting the need for a different approach to supporting student learning.
The schools also serve a significant number of students facing additional challenges, including higher rates of poverty and a larger population of students receiving special education services. These factors reinforced the importance of creating a school model designed to meet students where they are and provide targeted support for academic growth.
According to Executive Director of School Improvement Fred Bartels, district leaders recognized that incremental changes were not producing the results students deserved. Instead, they began looking for innovative solutions that could address the underlying barriers to student success and create lasting improvement.
That search led Bartels to the New Education System (NES), an instructional model originally developed in Houston. Inspired by its student-centered approach, district leaders adapted the framework to fit the unique needs of Klamath Falls City Schools and its rural community. The result was the creation of the Klamath Falls City New Education School (KFCNES) model, a locally designed system focused on accelerating learning, strengthening student support, and reimagining the educational experience for students at Mills Elementary and Ponderosa Middle School.
During the incoming 6th grade family event, Bartels shared the district’s vision for the work, emphasizing that the changes are centered around increasing support for both students and teachers.
“Our goal is simple,” Bartels said. “We want schools where high-quality instruction happens every day and students receive support quickly when they need it.”
Bartels explained that many of the changes are designed to allow teachers to spend more time focused directly on instruction and student relationships by building stronger operational and support systems throughout the school.
“We want teachers focused on teaching,” Bartels said. “That means building systems around them that remove barriers, increase support, and allow classrooms to stay focused on learning.”
Bartels also shared that Ponderosa Middle School has generated more than 1,800 behavior referrals this school year alone, representing more than 1,800 instances where student behavior interrupted classroom learning.
“We have incredibly dedicated teachers working very hard every day,” Bartels said. “But when classrooms are interrupted repeatedly throughout the day, it impacts learning for all students. These changes are designed to provide immediate support so teachers can stay focused on instruction and students can stay engaged in learning.”
Among the supports discussed during the evening were:
additional student support staff,
increased instructional coaching and administrator classroom support,
Apprentice Teachers who will provide instructional continuity when teachers are absent,
stronger behavior response systems, and highly engaging instructional practices designed to keep students actively involved in learning throughout the school day.
In all, KFCS will hire 24 new employees across Ponderosa and Mills: two building managers, two assistant principals, two copy clerks, 10 apprentice teachers, one counselor and seven student success specialists.
Throughout the presentation, Bartels emphasized that the district is aiming for “100 percent student engagement 100 percent of the time,” with classrooms utilizing highly interactive instructional strategies that keep students actively participating, discussing, writing, and responding during lessons rather than passively observing instruction.
Bartels emphasized that the district is intentionally adapting systems that fit the unique needs of KFCS students and schools.
“We are a small rural district, and our students and families have unique strengths and needs,” Bartels said. “This work is about building systems specifically for our community and ensuring our highest-needs students receive our highest levels of support.”
Throughout the evening, families asked thoughtful questions regarding student supports, classroom instruction, student engagement, electives, behavior systems, and school culture. Questions were addressed through a moderated a question-and-answer session led by KFCS Board Chair Andrew Biggs and Board Member Kelsey Bitzer.
Many families expressed excitement and optimism about the additional supports and instructional systems being developed for students. Several parents shared appreciation for the district’s focus on creating a safer, more structured learning environment where teachers are able to focus more fully on teaching and students are able to focus more fully on learning.
One parent, who works in a neighboring school district, expressed so much excitement about the direction of the work at Ponderosa that they shared they were considering applying for a position at the school.
The district also highlighted that relationship-building and school culture will continue to remain foundational parts of the student experience through ongoing implementation of Capturing Kids’ Hearts and other student-centered supports.
District leaders emphasized throughout the evening that the work is designed to strengthen support systems around both students and teachers in order to create calmer, more engaging, and more successful learning environments.
District leaders also emphasized that this work represents a long-term commitment to strengthening outcomes, opportunities, and support systems for students at Ponderosa Middle School and Mills Elementary School.
Families were encouraged to continue submitting questions and engaging in ongoing communication as implementation planning continues throughout the summer.
Additional family information nights and communication opportunities are planned in the coming months for both Ponderosa Middle School and Mills Elementary School.
