The League of Oregon Cities (LOC) presented Newberg sixth grade teachers the Civic Education Award at the League’s 88th annual conference on September 28, 2013, in Portland.  The award recognizes educators who have promoted local government education in Oregon schools. 

Mountain View Middle School teachers Linda Buck, Heather Bryant, Mike Alpert and Tom Willing (retired)  and Chehalem Valley teachers Wendy Halstead and Connie Rice were recognized for their involvement in the “Design Star” program. Design Star is a nationally-recognized learning collaboration between the City of Newberg planning staff and local middle school teachers that involves  almost every sixth grader in Newberg.

Now in its seventh year, the Design Star program helps students to develop critical thinking skills while introducing them to the basic principles of planning.  The program requires students to think critically about the city they live in, which lays a solid foundation for future civic engagement.

As part of the program, city staff uses GIS mapping to present information about the city, how it is planned and organized and how different types of land is used for housing, jobs and parks.  The teachers then instruct students on civic and planning concepts, having students work in groups on development proposals for one of two vacant sites in the city.  After several weeks of work, the students then present their proposals to the class, talking about positive and negative impacts of their plan.  Winning teams present their proposals to the city council and staff. 

“The Design Star project gives students a hands-on, real world experience that requires critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity and citizenship skills,” said Superintendent Kym LeBlanc-Esparza. “It takes skillful, quality teachers to integrate these components into meaningful learning and develop engaged citizens of the 21st Century.”