This month, I will have the honor and pleasure of co-hosting the Santa Clara County Teacher Recognition Celebration. In addition to honoring the 31 Teachers of the Year, we will also celebrate the accomplishments of the six teachers selected to receive the Texas Instruments STEM Teaching Awards. I have always maintained that the most important work done in any district is what takes place on a daily basis within the four corners of the classroom.
The hard work of the Teachers of the Year and STEM honorees is evident in their efforts to raise student excellence, which pays off not only for the students but for the entire Santa Clara County community. These teachers are leading the way in preparing our students to compete in a global economy. I invite you to join me in recognizing these teachers for their outstanding achievements.
The work of the teachers is also complemented by the efforts of our administrators, our parent support staff and, most importantly, our parents. This month, the COE will host a Parent Engagement Best Practices Forum. We are committed to creating partnerships with our families where they are valued, nurtured and engaged in their children's education. We have pledged to the families of Santa Clara County to reach out to involve them in meaningful ways and to build and strengthen relationships between families and staff. I am proud that the COE offers the opportunities to explore and learn more about the best practices around parent engagement.
September also marks the month that we celebrate and raise the level of awareness of the importance of going to college by participating in College Day on Sept. 28. I am looking forward to sharing my college experiences with students, and I encourage all of you to share your education journey with as many students as possible. It's never too early to begin the conversations with our students and children. For example, students entering kindergarten this year should know that they will graduate from high school in 2025 and will be members of the class of 2029 for college graduation.
Take the time to engage children in discussions about their personal education paths and to learn about the options in post-secondary education. We want to instill a culture of academic achievement in our community so that students and parents create future educational plans that include a university, community college or technical education. Remember to take the time on Sept. 28 to celebrate College Day 2012.
Finally, this month I spent two days with the superintendents from each of the 31 school districts that the COE serves. The discussions and conversations were insightful and informative. It's clear that a common theme among all of our school district leaders is the need to focus on STEM education. In addition, the superintendents are looking to the COE to provide a high level of support and information regarding the Common Core State Standards. Rigor is not only applicable to what we expect of our students, but also of ourselves in our professional development offerings.
Lastly, the superintendents continue to express their concerns regarding the uncertainty around the upcoming elections and the potential impacts of decisions to be made by the voters. I have recommitted to them that the COE will continue to offer the highest levels of support and resources possible, and I know that everyone in our office shares that commitment.
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Event to spur youth interest in college
Santa Clara County residents are encouraged to share their "Education Journey" with children on Sept. 28, designated as College Day.
College Day 2012 aims to celebrate, inspire and promote college aspirations among local youth. Now in its second year, the regional event is supported by the COE, Region V AVID, and other educational and community groups.
By sharing personal stories and experiences, adults can help children consider their educational goals, clarify the realities of college, and begin seeing higher learning as a real possibility.
College Day works to create a college-going culture that helps students design their path to college. This happens when educators, youth, parents, community-based organizations and other adults engage children in conversations, lessons and other college-promoting activities.
Last year, more than 30,000 people participated in the event. Learn more about College Day by visiting its website. Resources for educators, parents and community organizations are also available.
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Links of Interest
Who We Are
Watch a video that details the essential services that the COE provides students, teachers, districts and the community of Santa Clara County.
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| Gala event to honor teaching excellence |
 Local educators and community leaders will applaud the professional excellence of Santa Clara County's 31 Teachers of the Year -- as well as six exceptional science, technology, engineering and mathematics teachers -- at the 43rd annual Teacher Recognition Celebration on Sept. 27. School districts selected their honorees based on each teacher's dedication to students, classroom skill and commitment to life-long learning. This year's event will also include the Texas Instruments STEM Teaching Awards. Thanks to the generosity of Texas Instruments, the accolade will honor STEM teachers in grades seven through 12 who consistently demonstrate quality instruction, inspire interest and enhance student achievement in STEM subjects. Presented by the Santa Clara County Office of Education, the recognition ceremony is the oldest and largest of its kind in California. County Superintendent of Schools Xavier De La Torre, Ed.D., and Janice Edwards, talk show host and executive producer, will co-host the gala celebration. The annual Teacher Recognition Celebration is co-sponsored by Texas Instruments and the Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union, with support from the San Jose Mercury News. The Sixth District PTA and Santa Clara County School Boards Association provide additional support. Visit the Teacher Recognition Celebration website to learn more about the event's history, view videos and photographs of previous ceremonies, and get to know past teacher honorees. |
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New school for students in COE special education programs opens
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 A new state-of-the-art facility will serve 42 children enrolled in the COE's special education program for students with severe disa bilities and medical fragilities. Students, parents, teachers, administrators and elected officials gathered late last month to celebrate the grand opening of the McCollam School county annex. Housed on the campus of Alum Rock Union School District's McCollam School, the annex boasts four classrooms and an open courtyard. Construction took about a year and was made possible by a $4.4 million grant from the state's Office of Public School Construction. Check out a photo gallery of the day's celebration. Also, see a quick video of the ribbon cutting. |
Results show progress but more work
needed to close achievement gap |
 Results of two standardized tests recently released by the state show progress in narrowing the achievement gap in Santa Clara County, but also reveal that more work remains to be done. Results of the 2012 California Standards Tests (CST) released late last month show that 68 percent of county students scored as proficient or higher in English-Language Arts (ELA), compared to 57 percent statewide; and 73 percent of county scored as proficient or higher in math, compared to 63 percent statewide. Also, the gap between white and Hispanic students continues to decrease. For example, the gap in math scores is down by 10 percentage points since 2004. In spite of that trend, however, the size of the gap is still troubling, at 29 points.
See a full CST analysis from the COE's Assessment and Accountability Department here.
Meantime, an analysis of the 2011-12 California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) shows that county students overall continue to outperform their statewide counterparts. Further, demographic subgroups have shown a steady, gradual improvement in performance since the test was first instituted. Since 2005, the gap in scores between white and Hispanic subgroups in the county has narrowed by eight percentage points on the ELA portion of the test, and by 10 percentage points in math. Over that same span, white students' scores climbed by three points on both tests. See a full CAHSEE analysis from the COE's Assessment and Accountability Department here. |
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COE welcomes new Chief Strategy Officer
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The COE welcomed a new leader this month.
Toni Cordova has begun work in the newly created position of Chief Strategy Officer at the COE. In her role, she serves as chief executive for charter schools, communications, public and media relations, inter-district appeals, and research and evaluation. Toni is a member of Dr. De La Torre's cabinet.
Toni comes to the COE from the San Francisco Public Library, where she held the position of Chief of Communications, Programs and Partnerships. She previously worked as Director-Government and Community Relations for the Socorro Independent School District in El Paso, Texas.
Learn more about Toni here.
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| Board congratulates employees, honors National Hispanic Heritage Month |
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Here's a summary of actions taken by the Santa Clara County Board of Education at its Sept. 5 and 19 meetings:
- Recognized Tammy Gray, September 2012 Employee of the Month
- Approved a resolution acknowledging Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month
- Honored COE Teacher of the Year Guadalupe Moctezuma and County Board of Education-authorized charter school Teacher of the Year Jessica Davis
The Board of Education is the elected governing body of the COE. Its seven members serve four-year terms and are elected by different regions of the county. Learn more about the members, and view their meeting schedule, agendas and minutes.
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Video contest tackles voter awareness
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 A local voter awareness campaign is seeking entries for a video contest aimed at explaining the importance of voting. My Vote Our Future wants entrants to show what motivates them to vote and what they feel is at stake in the upcoming November elections.
The public will have about 10 days to vote on the finalists, and the grand prize winner will receive $1,000 and have their work promoted by My Vote Our Future's media partners.
Entries should be no longer than 60 seconds and must be submitted by Oct. 10. Winners will be announced Oct. 29. Visit the organization's website to learn more about the contest. Supported by the COE, My Vote Our Future is a nonpartisan project aimed at engaging underrepresented groups. Other partners include De Anza College, Parents for Great Education and Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. |
Forum focuses on parent engagement
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Participants in an upcoming forum at the COE will learn how to engage parents in the classroom and at home; develop effective parent engagement programs; and much more.
 The Parent Engagement Best Practices Forum will include two tracks: one for school administrators, teachers and program support staff, and another for parent leaders.
The event will be held Sept. 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the COE, 1290 Ridder Park Drive in San Jose.
Registration costs $10 for parent leaders, and $30 for administrators, teachers and support staff. Register online by Sept. 27.
For more information, contact Theresa Martinez at (408) 453-4322. |
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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 COE 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 COE takes pride in being a premier employer and a champion for children, schools, and community. |
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