News

Albany Options School will be experiencing some staff changes for the 2017-2018 school year.

After many years of serving the district, Kevin DeCoster, the school counselor, is retiring. AOS has been very fortunate to have Mr. DeCoster as the counselor and he will be greatly missed, but we wish him all the best in his retirement.

Anna Harryman has been teaching English Language Arts and Social Studies at AOS, and will take over as the school counselor and will continue teaching the Family and Consumer Sciences classes. Mrs. Harryman is completing her Master’s in School Counseling at Northwest Christian University in Eugene.

AOS is very excited to announce that Lindsey Roundy has been hired as the new English Language Arts and Social Studies teacher. This past year Mrs. Roundy spent a trimester at AOS as the long-term substitute for Mrs. Harryman while she was on maternity leave. She spent the rest of the year as the primary substitute in the building. Mrs. Roundy earned her Social Studies Master in Education degree from the University of Georgia and her Bachelors in Social Sciences Education from Florida State University. She has been working at Oregon State University as a student mentor and BEST staff member.

Wendy Marks has accepted a position with the school district as the College Readiness Coordinator. Mrs. Marks spent six years at AOS and will be greatly missed. We are excited to continue working with her in her new capacity as she works with our students attending Linn-Benton Community College.

Deanna Kozak officially retired last year, but stayed on part-time this year to help with the transition of the Choices program. Ms. Kozak has been the longest serving educator in alternative education in our district and has made a huge impact on the lives of countless youth in our community. We wish her all the best in retirement. AOS will not be the same without her. 

We would like to welcome Mona Soot to the AOS family as a Special Education Assistant (SEA). Mrs. Soot earned her Master’s in Theology at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary and her Bachelor’s in Biology from Occidental College. In addition, she has taught parenting classes in our community and is the mother to two students at West Albany High School as well as five West Albany alumni.

On Wednesday, May 31st, fifteen Albany Options School students volunteered their day at the Youth Special Olympics held on the South Albany High School track.

For the sixth year in a row, AOS students have participated in this event. The students set up the events, ran the events and assisted the Olympians, and cleaned up afterwards.

The AOS students look forward to this event every year. Many comment on how meaningful and special it is to them and how fortunate they are to be able to participate in it.

Check out the article about the event in the Albany Democrat-Herald.

Photo by David Patton, Albany Democrat-Herald.

Albany Options School celebrated the commencement of 57 students on Monday, June 12th in the Russell Tripp Performance Center at Linn-Benton Community College. This was the fifth year since AOS began holding their graduation ceremony in the venue, at the time boasting 33 graduates.

Students Jaushua Jung and Luis DeSantiago were the class speakers and shared how their experience at AOS shaped, changed, and saved them.

An additional 43 students earned their GED at Albany Options School this school year.

The Class of 2017:

Cyra Berry

Denver Landtroop

Mason Wooldridge

School is out for summer break. School offices will be closed for the month of July. Check your school website for office hours.

Registration times have been posted. Find the date and time for your school. 

Check back this summer for back-to-school resources.

The Albany Public Schools Foundation announced its list of annual scholarship winners. The awards go to graduating seniors from Greater Albany high schools.

Albany Public Schools Foundation issued a press release announcing the winners. Pictured are Jessica Woodall (left), winner of the Chris Lukesic Memorial Scholarship and Evelynn Flamez, winner of the Albany Chamber Pipeline/LBCC scholarship.

NEWS RELEASE

Albany Public Schools Foundation
Contact: Aimee Addison 541-979-2773
June 10, 2017

The Albany Public Schools Foundation was honored to award nineteen scholarships, totaling $44,250, to high school seniors from the 2017 Albany graduating classes this year.

Albany Options scholarship award winners were: Jordan Monet Jackson, Albany Public Schools Foundation scholarship; Alan Hernandez, Albany Chamber Pipeline/LBCC scholarship.

South Albany High School scholarship award winners were: Emma Clare, Jim Linhart scholarship; Riley Swanson, Howell/DKG scholarship; Hannah Barber, Eric Mann scholarship; Cristian Amador and Katie Osuna, Jeanne Linn scholarship; Katie Osuna, Central Willamette Credit Union scholarship.

West Albany High School scholarship award winners were: Josh Rondeau and Delanie Phillips, Teddy Brown scholarship; Felicia Lopez-Martinez, Jim Linhart scholarship; Denisse Medina, Joseph Blickenstaff scholarship; Jessica Woodall, Chris Lukesic Memorial scholarship; Lauren Schuh, Howell/DKG scholarship; Anthony Straw, Botkin Memorial scholarship; Evelynn Flamez and Kylan Moe, Albany Chamber Pipeline/LBCC scholarship; Emily Harding and Riley Lamont, ATI – Allegheny Technologies Inc. scholarship.

The Albany Public Schools Foundation scholarships range from $500 to $5000 and are available for one to four years. The Foundation, founded in 1984, has awarded $348,994 in scholarships. In addition, the Foundation funds classroom grants and school enrichment grants providing support for education enhancing opportunities throughout the Greater Albany School District.

Please contact the Albany Public Schools Foundation at 541-979-2773 for more information on how you can help support kids in the Greater Albany Public School District through setting up or donating to a scholarship fund.