Noemi Arellano-Summer

Bend, Boston

Schools, Youth, and Families Reporter at The Bulletin (Bend, OR)

Freelance Journalist at Providence Business News

Writer, reader, journalist, hobby historian, essayist, critic. Words @thebulletin, @bostonglobe, @Bostonhassle, @howardcenterumd. (she/her).

Articles

Redmond teacher on probation after accused of spanking a special-needs child

1 week ago | redmondspokesman.com | Noemi Arellano-Summer

Published 3:24 pm Tuesday, April 15, 2025 A special education teacher who taught at Elton Gregory Middle School in Redmond was reprimanded and put on probation for four years after allegations surfaced that he screamed at students, shoved food in a student’s mouth and spanked the buttocks of a special-needs child, according to an April 4 report from the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission.
Weekend food program is a lifeline for rural families

2 weeks ago | centraloregonian.com | Noemi Arellano-Summer

Vanessa Nolen, Family Access Network advocate, stepped up to put together weekend bags of food for students and families in Crook County who need it. Three years later, her efforts are still going strong. These food bags bridge the gap for students between school days, ensuring that they are fed over the weekend. Nolen’s work serves families who might live outside of Prineville and might not have access to running water. Some students say food is scarce on the weekends.
Food assistance cuts loom as demand rises in Central Oregon

3 weeks ago | redmondspokesman.com | Noemi Arellano-Summer

NeighborImpact, which provides food to nearly 60 partner organizations in the Central Oregon area, has told its partners to expect up to 20% reductions in food aid for hungry families in the coming months. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a payment freeze to the Commodity Credit Corporation programs, which has since closed food bank orders through July. Shipments of food from the Emergency Food Assistance program have been cut, including meat, dairy and eggs.
Dozens of dogs rescued from La Pine property after animal neglect investigation

3 weeks ago | rv-times.com | Noemi Arellano-Summer |Troy Heie

Published 9:54 am Sunday, March 30, 2025 A La Pine woman was cited for 69 counts of alleged animal neglect this week and dozens of dogs were rescued from her property. The Humane Society of Central Oregon, based in Bend, has taken in 18 of the dogs and is seeking community support for adoption, fostering and funding the care of the dogs. Following an investigation on a 10-acre property south of La Pine, owner Christina Cairns, 65, voluntarily surrendered her dogs to authorities.
Central Oregon schools in limbo as education agency shrinks

1 month ago | redmondspokesman.com | Noemi Arellano-Summer

Central Oregon schools are left in limbo as the Trump administration seeks to close the U.S. Department of Education. Education leaders say that even though they don’t know exactly what will change in Central Oregon, the changes do not affect what they do every day: educate Central Oregon students, whether they are kindergartners or community college students.
Redmond Proficiency Academy students shine on stage

2 months ago | redmondspokesman.com | Noemi Arellano-Summer

Redmond Proficiency Academy is known in the world of high school theater. Since Kate Torcom, theater director, started teaching there a decade ago and began a thespian group for competitions, Redmond students have won big. This year, they’ve done it again at the Oregon Thespians Southern Regional Acting Competition in Eugene, held earlier in February. The thespian group, which has 30 students, won 48 medals for excellence in several acting categories, the most of any school in the region.
Dunkelberg 'slays' in viral video to promote Redmond library

2 months ago | redmondspokesman.com | Noemi Arellano-Summer

Deschutes Public Library Director Todd Dunkelberg has undergone a glow-up in promoting the new Redmond Public Library, which opened to the public Jan. 27. Using a script full of Gen Z slang — including the phrase glow-up — he took viewers on a tour of the 40,000-square-foot space for the library system’s social media platforms. With 78,000 likes on Instagram and 674,000 views on TikTok as of Wednesday morning, the video has certifiably gone viral. kAmsF?<6=36C8 D9@H65 @77 E96 =:3C2CJ’D A2E:@[ E66?
Meet the three finalists up for the job of COCC’s next president

2 months ago | redmondspokesman.com | Noemi Arellano-Summer

Central Oregon Community College is gaining a new president this year, as President Laurie Chesley has announced her retirement for the end of June. The college’s board of directors has narrowed the search down to three finalists, who made campus visits to Central Oregon throughout January and February. The board intends to make its final decision later in February. The new president will begin their tenure in July.
Educator shortage continues at regional provider HDESD

2 months ago | redmondspokesman.com | Noemi Arellano-Summer

The High Desert Educational Service District, which provides regional services to children and students, continues to be faced with educator shortages. This is the first year that Jenny Faircloth, executive director of early intervention and early childhood special education programs, can remember that the education service district wasn’t able to hire a full staff. The district has been searching for speech language pathologists since September. kAm%96 9:89 4@DED @7 9@FD:?8 :? r6?EC2= ~C68@?
Graduation rates are up in Central Oregon schools

2 months ago | redmondspokesman.com | Noemi Arellano-Summer

High School graduation rates generally rose among Central Oregon school districts for the 2023-24 school year, including in Redmond. Every district had rates above the state average of 81.8%, according to the data released by the Oregon Department of Education Thursday. Central Oregon’s graduation rates ranged from 85% to 95% for the 2023-24 school year. kAm%96 52E2 EC24<65 DEF56?ED H9@ 3682?