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RAFT provides a treasure trove of resources for teachers.
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Teacher Appreciation Week Festivities
Honor Local Teachers
Schools
throughout San Mateo County and the nation said thanks to their teachers in a
variety of ways during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 3-7, and throughout the
month of May. In San Mateo County, PTAs and parent groups hosted special
breakfasts, catered lunches and special recognition events to honor teachers.
At its
meeting on May 5, 2010, the San  Mateo County Board of Education honored Shannon
Cody, a fourth-grade teacher at Clifford School in the Redwood City School
District, who was selected as San Mateo County's Teacher of the Year for
2010. In addition, the San Mateo County
Office of Education celebrated the Day of the Teacher with a reception honoring
certificated staff. All these
events and tributes highlight the important work of teachers. "In these
challenging times for schools, it's more important than ever to recognize the
dedication and hard work of teachers," notes County Superintendent Jean
Holbrook. "Dedicated teachers who inspire, mentor and guide students in the
classroom day in and day out provide the key to student achievement." Learn more
about these special events honoring teachers here.
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RAFT Provides a Lifeline for Teachers
Resource Area for
Teaching (RAFT), a treasure trove of resources for teachers, is tucked into a
4,000-sq.-ft. space at the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE). There
you'll find a knowledgeable staff (where three of the four are former teachers); access
to low-cost classroom supplies; more than 500 "idea sheets;" hands-on
prepackaged activity kits tied to California curriculum standards; workshops; how-to
videos; and the "Green Room," filled with a large collection of Ellison
dies, paper cutters, book-binding equipment, a computer, a button-maker, a
copier and laminator, all available for teacher use.
RAFT got its start in San Jose, where its
headquarters remain today. The SMCOE has
hosted RAFT at its 101 Twin Dolphin facility for about a year, creating the
first Bay Area satellite center in order to make these resources more
accessible to San Mateo
County educators.
At RAFT teachers can
purchase an inexpensive kit that will contain everything they need for a
hands-on lesson for their students. Or they might use the book-binding
equipment to create books out of student work.
In the past year since
its inception at SMCOE, RAFT has served 1,750 teachers, who pay low-cost
membership fees to gain access to the materials.
"Students need a variety
of learning experiences," says Jeanne Izant, Satellite Manager of RAFT at
SMCOE. "We make sure we fill in the gaps with our activity kits and idea sheets.
With everything at their fingertips here at RAFT," we make it easier for
teachers who are busy with their many responsibilities." Izant, a 40-year-veteran
teacher and principal, is a resource herself. She and her staff of three are
there to help, answer questions and guide teachers.
Learn more about RAFT at
SMCOE here.
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Kent Awards Honor Educational
Programs in San Mateo County
On May 10, the San Mateo County School Boards Association (SMCSBA)
honored 16 outstanding and innovative educational programs in San Mateo County
with the 2010 J. Russell Kent Award. A celebratory dinner, musical performance by
the Menlo Atherton Guitar Group and awards ceremony were held at the Doubletree
Hotel in Burlingame. The audience of
nearly 150 people included San Mateo County school board members, school
administrators, superintendents, teachers, students and local elected officials. The J. Russell Kent Awards, named after past San Mateo
County Superintendent of Schools, J. Russell Kent, have been given each year
since 1980 by the SMCSBA. This year's
award-winners include programs that deliver enrichment and "whole child"
curriculum; programs for at-risk teens; solutions that address the achievement
gap; and support for parents, teachers and community partnerships.
"We are thrilled once again to celebrate the amazing work
done in schools across the county," notes Shelly Massur, president of SMCSBA
and governing board member of the Redwood City School District. "Despite the
awful financial conditions for public education in the state, San Mateo County
continues to lead with innovative and impactful programs for students."
Learn more about this year's Kent Award winners here.
Learn more about the Kent Awards and the award criteria from
SMCSBA here.
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ESEA Up for Reauthorization
The Obama administration's "Blueprint
for Reform" could mean changes ahead for curriculum and assessment in schools
across the nation.
In March, the Obama administration and the U.S. Department
of Education unveiled its blueprint for reauthorizing the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Called "A Blueprint for Reform," the
reauthorization proposal continues the administration's focus on closing the
achievement gap, while laying out significant changes from the previous
reauthorization, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001. Secretary of
Education Arne Duncan put forth five key priorities: college and career ready
students, great teachers and leaders in every school, equity and opportunity
for all students, raising the bar and rewarding excellence, and promoting
innovation and continuous improvement.
After the period for public comment on the Blueprint ended
on March 26, it's now up to Congress to reauthorize ESEA. Secretary Duncan is
optimistic the Act will be reauthorized this year. In a March 15 press release
he commented, "We will work with Congress on a bipartisan basis to reauthorize
ESEA this year. We owe it to our children and our country to act now."
What will the reauthorization mean for schools in San Mateo
County and across the country? It could mean new ways of measuring the
effectiveness of schools and districts; a rigorous, internationally benchmarked
common core of academic standards for schools; and new ways of measuring
teacher and principal effectiveness. "Down the road it could well mean new
standards, curriculum frameworks, materials and assessments. It's a redefinition
of the federal role in school reform and, in many ways, a new way of thinking
about what defines success for a school or district," notes Gary Waddell,
Associate Superintendent, Instructional Services Division, at the San Mateo
County Office of Education.
Read more about the proposed reauthorization of ESEA and
what it will mean for San Mateo County schools here.
See the full
Blueprint for Reform here.
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Behind the Scenes for Students
At the San Mateo County Fair
The San Mateo County Fair is coming to town! From June
12-20, the fairgrounds in San Mateo will be alive with animals, rides,
exhibits, performances and more. This year the County Fair has added a special feature -- San
Mateo student backstage tours. San Mateo
County teachers and students are invited to take a field trip tour to the
Fair. Fair tours are conducted daily,
Monday -Thursday (Jun 14-17), 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
The tours are free to all schools in San Mateo County that are still in
session during this time period. All
students must be signed up by their classroom teacher. To register, contact
Matt Cranford, Fair Manager at (650) 574-3247.
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About the San Mateo County Office of Education
The San Mateo County Office of Education provides a variety of instructional, business and consulting services to the County's twenty-three public school districts, charter schools, the Community College District, and County Office of Education staff.
Believe In Tomorrow: Think Green Today
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