Education Bulletin - December 2009
In This Issue
� Charter School Summit
� Staff serenades Employee of the Month
� Event honors Young Artists
� Preparing for 21st Century work force
Dr. Charles Weis, County Superintendent of Schools
 
Our County Office of Education fulfills many functions.  We provide services for children, schools and communities throughout Santa Clara County. As a regional resource, we serve 31 K-12 public school districts, and more than 260,000 students and 13,000 teachers.

Our mission is to serve as a champion for children, schools and the community.  Fulfilling that mission involves a wide range of services.  We have put together a short video that attempts to depict those services, and give community members a sense of what the County Office of Education means to them.  


Thank you for your interest in the County Office, and in our Education Bulletin. Again, we welcome your feedback and invite you to add friends and colleagues to our e-mail list.


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 Links of Interest


Silicon Valley Reads
In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan has been selected as the featured book for Silicon Valley Reads 2010.



H1N1 Information
Get  the latest information, links  and resources regarding the influenza virus also known as swine flu.



Gilroy Business
and Education Partnership

Businesses, educators, employees, and students can find links to services for job training and support at this new site.
Charter School Summit
Charter School Summit 2010The rapid growth of charter schools in Santa Clara County, and concerns about effects on neighborhood public schools, have led to the call for a Charter School Summit on January 30, 2010, at the Santa Clara County Office of Education 

A Charter School Task Force was commissioned by the Santa Clara County Board of Education in June, after the idea for a summit was put forth by Board Vice President Anna Song and Board Member Joseph Di Salvo.  The two co-chair the Task Force. The summit is being facilitated by the COE Charter Schools Department.

The Task Force includes Board Member Grace Mah, and representatives from the COE Charter Schools Department, San Jose State University, San Jose Unified School District, San Jose Unified School Board, San Jose Charter School Consortium, Alum Rock School District, California Charter Schools Association, Bullis Charter School, and Downtown College Preparatory Charter School.

For more information email [email protected], or call (408) 453-3601.
Staff serenades Employee of the Month
The Santa Clara County Board of Education met November 18.   Among the items on the board agenda from that date, the board:

Walden West staff serenade "Scooby" Meier � Was entertained by a rousing original song, sung by staff from Walden West, in honor of the County Office's Employee of the Month, Jymn "Scooby" Meier, (Agenda Item 2)

� Approved an appeal petition by Downtown College Prep-Alum Rock Charter School Petition (Agenda Item  9A)

� Heard a presentation about the County Office's Alternative Schools Department entitled "The Road to Success."  (Agenda Item 10C)

The Board of Education is the elected governing body of the Office of Education.  Its seven members serve four-year terms and are elected from different regions of the county.
Event honors Young Artists
Student art
Student artists from public schools across Santa Clara County were honored on November 17 for their artwork, which was selected for display at the County Office of Education. The drawings and paintings of 31 students, from preschool through 12th grade, were selected this year from among 205 entries in the annual Young Artist Showcase competition.  

The works join a permanent collection of 800-plus pieces from past competitions.  This year's young artists represent 18 schools from 10 districts and four Head Start programs.   
The Young Artists Showcase is sponsored by a generous grant from the San Jose Water Company, whose support has made possible a special Student Traveling Art Exhibition Program from 2008-2010.
Preparing for 21st Century workforce
Student VideographerMore than 200 school administrators, teachers, counselors and business partners gathered on November 13 for the 2009 Career Technical Education Conference.  The event explored how to connect education to the 21st Century workforce.

Keynote speakers and workshops focused on keeping students engaged so they'll stay in school, and providing training so they'll have the skills to continue their education or enter the workplace. The daylong conference at the Santa Clara County Offices of Education also explored building partnerships with colleges and businesses to connect students to career pathways.

The SCCOE's Career Technical Education department provides academic and technical courses in 15 industry sectors that include 58 career options.  They include engineering and design, health science and medical technology, fashion and interior design and arts, media and entertainment.

For more information on the conference, including copies of handouts and presentations, click here.
Since 1852, the Santa Clara County Office of Education has provided vital services and resources to the county's 31 K-12 public school districts and more than 250,000 students.  The SCCOE strives to provide: advocacy and leadership on education issues, student programs that are models of excellence, and indispensable services to schools and community partners. The SCCOE takes pride in being a premier employer and a champion for children, schools, and community.
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