COSA is adding two new staff members to its professional team for the 2022-23 school year.

Shelly Reggiani, who currently serves as Director of Equity, Community Engagement and Communications in the North Clackamas School District, has been selected as COSA’s new Senior Director of Learning, Equity and Communications.  Carmen Gelman, currently Principal at Milwaukie High School and Milwaukie Academy of the Arts, has been selected as COSA’s new Director of Professional Learning.  Gelman and Reggiani will begin work at COSA on July 1.

“We are excited that Shelly and Carmen will be joining the COSA team. They bring a wealth of skills and knowledge that will be of tremendous benefit to COSA members,” COSA Executive Director Craig Hawkins said.  “Both are widely respected, and viewed as ‘go-to’ thought-partners and mentors for colleagues around Oregon.”

Shelly Reggiani, Ed.D., has been an educational leader for over 25 years, dedicated to the success of each student and the growth and development of her staff. She has served as a middle school teacher, building principal, and central office administrator.  Reggiani has supported federal Title programs, Talented and Gifted Education, Bilingual Education, Counseling and Social Services, Title IX coordination, culturally specific community engagement, inclusion and equity initiatives, educator professional development, and communications for the North Clackamas School District. She has also been an adjunct professor for Lewis and Clark College for nearly a decade supporting administrative licensure and ESOL certification.

Reggiani will help to lead COSA’s communication, equity, and licensure-and-degree efforts, and will be engaged in COSA’s professional learning program.  She will also serve as a resource to central office administrators.

Reggiani earned her Bachelor's and Masters from Oregon State University and her Educational Doctorate from George Fox University. She was recognized with the AASA Women in School Leadership Award in 2020.  Reggiani believes that education has the power to open doors, transform lives, and uplift individuals, and their communities.

“Some of my greatest moments in education have been building systems and supporting educators in becoming their best, transforming systems for greater inclusion, and opening doors for students to share their voices and experiences,” Reggiani said. “COSA shares these same values.  In joining COSA, I know I am joining people who believe in collaboration, the strength of public schools, and the potential to transform education through professional learning, intentional support, and leadership.”

Carmen Gelman was born and raised in Southern California (she also spent part of her elementary years in Mexico) and was part of an education system that pushed her out and onto the streets of South Central. As a 29-year-old single mother of three living in Eugene, Gelman found herself working full-time in social services and going to college, not knowing that one day she would find herself leading change in schools and communities specific to addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Gelman has had a significant, positive impact on student outcomes and is recognized throughout the state as a school change agent with expertise in culturally relevant and sustaining practices and an unwavering commitment to student and family voice.

Prior to becoming principal at Milwaukie High and Milwaukie Academy of the Arts, she was a school administrator in the Beaverton and Springfield School Districts, and also worked for three years with schools and districts throughout California and Oregon as the school partnership director and consultant at Inflexion. Gelman has been the recipient of the Distinguished Latino Educator award through OALA; the Pearl M. Hill Award, celebrating freedom, the Human Rights, and the Alliance award through SAFER; and the 2021 COSA President’s Award.

Gelman will team with Senior Director of Professional Learning Tina Acker to lead COSA’s professional learning program.  Gelman and Acker will also provide individual and small-group support for K-12 building administrators throughout the state.

“I am honored to be joining the COSA team as the new Director of Professional Learning and to be able to continue my love for lifelong learning” Gelman said. “I am most excited to walk alongside our Oregon members and be a thought partner as they grapple with problems of practice. After all, they have the most precious job of educating our state's students. I have always been a fierce advocate for education, and I am thankful for the opportunity to serve our educators on a statewide level.”

Other upcoming staff changes at COSA include the retirement of longtime Deputy Executive Director Colin Cameron on June 30, and the promotion of Krista Parent to Deputy Executive Director on July 1.