Randall Acute Care Unit

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Home > MESD Schools & Programs > Hospital School Program > Randall Acute Care Unit

We are a public school program that supports students, K-12, during their hospitalization and ongoing treatment plans. All students should have access to learning opportunities and a social learning environment when they are hospitalized. School in the hospital helps students reconnect to their routine and their school which in turn contributes to their healing process. Our staff works closely with the nursing and medical staff to determine the appropriate level of activity for each student. Simply stop by the classroom or ask your nurse about our program.

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Randall Children's Hospital
2801 N Gantenbein Ave
Portland, OR 97227
(503) 276-9788

Principal
Sarah Davis
sdavis@mesd.k12.or.us
(503) 262-4202
cell: (971) 271-1407

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School Hours (M-F) — 10:00 am to 12:00 pm & 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
School Office hours (M-F) — 8 am to 4 pm

Randall Children's Hospital School Program follows Portland Public School District for emergency / weather closures. Please visit FlashAlert or consult your local television / radio station for emergency / weather closure information.

Administrative Assistants
Sheila Schacher
sschache@mesd.k12.or.us
(503) 262-4200

Xochitl Tombleson
xtombleson@mesd.k12.or.us
(503) 262-4200

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Shiehezi displays a beautiful cedar birdhouse built by her own hands. The birdhouse project kit was a collaboration with a former hospital school student aiming to fulfill his Eagle Scout requirements. Thanks in part to the successful completion of the project, he was recently awarded the Boy Scout’s highest honor.

Meet the Randall Acute Care Unit Staff

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Joseph Cirillo
Hospital Teacher Randall Acute Care Unit
(503) 276-9787
fax (503) 276-9789
jcirillo@mesd.k12.or.us

Education: I grew up in Brooklyn, NY and graduated from Iona College with a Bachelors Degree in Finance. After spending almost 4 years abroad, I moved to the Northwest United States and obtained a Masters Degree of Science in Special Education from Portland State University.

Teaching Experience: I began my teaching career in 2003 with the Hospital School Program.

Hobbies: I currently spend much of my free time oil painting, playing music, and renovating my 100 year old home.

Favorite book: My favorite book is John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath.” It was instrumental in making me an avid, lifelong reader.

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Lori Connor
Hospital Teacher Randall Acute Care Unit
(503) 276-9788
fax (503) 276-9789
mconner@mesd.k12.or.us

Education: I attended Western Washington University for my undergraduate education and completed the teaching certification program in Elementary Education and Special Education through Seattle Pacific University.

Teaching Experience: I’ve had the honor of teaching in special education since 1999.

Hobbies: In my free time, I enjoy bird watching, snowshoeing, camping, reading and spending time with my two miniature schnauzers.

Favorite Book: Although I would love to list all the books that have impacted me, the book responsible for making me the reader I am today is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

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Annabelle Davis
Educational Assistant Randall Acute Care Unit
(503) 276-9787
fax (503) 276-9789
adavis02@mesd.k12.or.us

Education: I completed my formal education in my home country–Guatemala, where I had the fortune of attending private schools all the way up to college. I have a love for art which inspired me to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Art & Science with an emphasis in Interior Design. I then had the fortune of assisting in a Art History class and later taught a class at the same university where I got my I.D. Degree. When I came to the States with the goal of improving my English, I enrolled myself in an ESL program in Oakland, California and received a diploma for foreign students which is equal to a H.S. diploma.

Teaching Experience: Taking the advice of one of my teachers, I tutored students that wanted to learn Spanish while I continued to practice my English. When I moved to Portland, I worked as an interpreter for the Unemployment Office. I have been working for the Hospital School Program since 2001, six of them with the Rehabilitation Unit.

Hobbies: Walking, biking, flower arranging, cooking, hiking and traveling.

Favorite Book: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.

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Allison Kestel
Hospital Teacher Randall Acute Care Unit
(503) 276-9787
fax (503) 276-9789
akestel@mesd.k12.or.us

Education: I received my Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Oregon in 2001 with a Family and Human Services Major and Minor in Special Education. I went on to receive my Master’s Degree from U of O in 2002 in Early Childhood / Elementary Special Education.

Teaching Experience: After graduation I moved to Southern California and began my teaching career. I taught for the Junior Blind of America in Los Angeles for 3 years while earning my California degree from Cal State LA in Teaching Moderate to Severe Disabilities. In 2005, I moved to Santa Barbara and taught at the Devereux Foundation for 1 year. I then transferred to Santa Barbara School District for the next 3 years. I moved back to Oregon in 2009 and I have been teaching for the MESD from 2009-2013 in the Functional Living Skills Program.I then was excited to start with the Hospital School Program in 2013.

Hobbies: My favorite hobbies include hiking, canoeing, and making arts and crafts.

Favorite Book: My favorite book is… this is tough one! The Harry Potter Series reminded me what it was to be a child reader again. I was traveling in Thailand when the 5th book came out and I spent the entire day wandering Bangkok looking for an English copy.

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