Chronic Absenteeism and Daily Routines That Influence Attendance

About the Presenters

Michael Lopes-Serrao has been Superintendent of Parkrose School District since 2018. He has worked for the district since 2002, where he started as the Principal of Prescott Elementary School, became the Director of School Improvement in 2013, and became Assistant Superintendent in 2016. He also spent a decade working as a teacher in the Beaverton School District before coming to Parkrose. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Western Oregon University and his master’s degree from the University of Oregon. Michael lives in Portland with his wife, Johanna, and his son, Mateo. Michael comes from a first-generation Portuguese immigrant family. His extended family is from Madeira Island, Portugal. Michael is dedicated to the Parkrose Mission to build a safe, creative community where their students can grow and have agency in their educational path by providing diverse learning opportunities, partnering with the wider community, and building a foundation for lifelong learning.

This year marks Shelli Deaguero’s 21st year in education, all proudly served in Aurora Public Schools. Her leadership is grounded by a deep commitment to cultivating a thriving learning community where teaching and learning flourish, students are equipped to meet and exceed their academic goals, and educators grow as leaders within their classrooms and beyond. Shelli believes all students deserve to be seen, heard, and valued, with their identities affirmed and celebrated. She is passionate about creating environments where students experience joy, curiosity, and excitement for learning each day. A Colorado native, Shelli values family and community. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her husband of 32 years, their five children, and five grandchildren. She can often be found hiking, camping, gardening, or cheering at sporting events. Shelli is honored to serve the Clara Brown community and remains deeply dedicated to its students, families, and staff.

Elizabeth Cushing is the CEO of Playworks, a national organization leveraging the power of play to transform children’s well-being. Recognizing that play is vital in learning to relate to each other, Elizabeth works to ensure all kids have access to a safe and healthy recess experience at school every day. Elizabeth joined Playworks in 2004 and was named CEO in 2020. During her tenure, she has played a lead role in designing Playworks’ national scaling strategy, growing from a San Francisco Bay Area focus to a national organization reaching nearly 1 million children every year. For more than 30 years, Elizabeth has served in leadership roles in nonprofit organizations focused on youth development, children’s advocacy, and women’s issues. Elizabeth is a product of Oregon public schools, Stanford University, and the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs.