Staff and leadership changes with VPS Family-Community Resource Centers - 07/28/14
Tamara Shoup, Family-Community Resource Center (FCRC) partnerships coordinator, will be promoted to director of family engagement and FCRCs for the school year 2014-15. Shoup will step into the position vacated by Jennifer Blechschmidt when she took an administrative position with La Center School District.

Alishia Topper, formerly the senior development director with the Fort Vancouver National Trust and currently a Vancouver City Council member, will be director of strategic partnerships for the FCRCs. Topper will work with local businesses, government agencies, faith-based groups, neighborhood associations, not-for-profit organizations, service clubs and other current and prospective partners to mobilize resources that remove barriers to learning and promote student success.

Catherine MacCallum-Ceballos, formerly the FCRC site coordinator at Discovery Middle School, will be the technical assistance coordinator for the FCRCs. MacCallum-Ceballos will support the 13 FCRC site coordinators in ensuring that their efforts are aimed at improving district key performance indicators. MacCallum-Ceballos also will facilitate or provide professional development for the FCRC staff and principals.

Chris Olsen, executive director for teaching and learning, will serve as the FCRC task force leader, a duty performed by Tom Hagley, chief of staff, for the past six years. Olsen's leadership of the Family Engagement/FCRC initiative will align with her responsibilities associated with the Opportunity Zone schools and will provide K-12 operational support to the initiative. Karla Schlosser will continue to oversee Title I resources allocated to the FCRCs and will work closely with Olsen in leading the Family Engagement/FCRC goal area as the district begins to implement its Design II, Chapter 2 strategic plan.