masthead updated
Issue: #26June 2012
In This Issue
STEM Center
Community School Grads
Teacher of the Year
Summer China Institute
PEAK Training
Facebook Here We Come
Community School Graduates
Community School Grads get ready to receive their diplomas 
Community School Grads Overcome Obstacles Before Reaching the Stage

 

STEM Center Gets Ready

For Grand Opening

 

 

The renovations are nearly completed, STEM staff members are moving into offices, and preparations are underway for a grand opening on August 24, 2012. SMART boards, eBEam and Wall Talkers are installed, and the video-editing room is ready to go. The new state-of-the-art Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Center at the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) will soon be up and running.

 

On June 6, 2012, members of the Redwood City Chamber of Commerce Education Committee were the first in the

RWC Chamber at STEM Center
Members of the Redwood City Chamber of Education Committee get a sneak peek at the STEM Center with Director Dr. Christi Harter.

community to get a sneak peek and guided tour with STEM Center Director Dr. Christi Harter. County Superintendent Anne Campbell welcomed the group and explained that providing high-quality STEM professional development is a key SMCOE strategic goal. The opening of the STEM Center will be integral to achieving that goal.

 

As Larry Buckmaster, President of the Redwood City Chamber and Chair of the Education Committee, strolled through the Center, he noted "This is phenomenal. There is so much technology I didn't even know existed." SMCOE board member and Redwood City Chamber member Memo Morantes commented "We're in Silicon Valley. We need more of what's offered here to prepare our students for 21st century learning."

 

Harter and her staff will be moving in this summer, in preparation for the official opening to the public in August. The grand opening ceremonies will feature a keynote address by Kevin Walsh, Oracle Senior Vice President of Product Development. Oracle has been a vital corporate partner in the development of the STEM Center, thanks to an Oracle Impact Grant of $190,000, which will go toward developing fifth- through twelfth-grade computer science pathways.

 

A significant part of Harter's work this past year has been in grant development for the STEM Center. In addition to the Oracle grant, she has helped to secure a Heising-Simons Foundation grant of $264,660 to focus on PreK-3 vertical training through professional communities concentrating on PreK math foundations and Common Core math standards, and the $80,000 California Department of Education Module 3 grant for Mathematics: K-8 Learning Progressions.

 

Harter anticipates the STEM Center will be in full swing next fall, offering a series of trainings in instructional technology, with a focus on blended and online learning. The STEM Center will also have the capacity to record any trainings that occur at SMCOE and archive them on the Internet so that they will be easily accessible for remote professional development. The Center will also have facilities for video conferencing.

 

"In the new STEM Center, we'll be continuing the work that we began last year -- supporting implementation of the Common Core state standards in mathematics, the Next Generation Science Standards, blended and online learning, and our Mathematics Early Learning Initiative" notes Harter. "I am excited to see what it will all look like in a year's time."

 

"We are so appreciative of SMCOE staff and all their work that has gone into opening the STEM Center," adds Harter. "Denise Porterfield has been collaborative and instrumental in managing aspects of the building; Margie Gustafson has been instrumental with overseeing the facilities; Lorrie Owens has supported efforts to ensure the technology is up and running; Gary Waddell and Anne Campbell set the vision, which is a unique one in the nation."

 

Community School Grads --
They've Come a Long Way

   

 

Every graduation is a celebration but for the 22 graduates of San Mateo County's Gateway Community School, the May 30, 2012 ceremony at the Bayside STEM Academy in San Mateo was especially meaningful. Each of these students had to overcome tremendous obstacles in order to reach graduation day and receive their diplomas.

 

Gateway School, a community school program of the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE), is a

Community School Graduates
2012 Graduates of Gateway Community School get ready to receive their diplomas.

school for students who require a transition program after incarceration, or students who have been referred by their home district due to expulsion or other serious reasons.

 

"Graduation is a big deal for these students," said Megan Price, Educational Services Manager of the Court and Community Schools Program. "Along the way, someone told these kids they were never going to make it. But they proved them wrong."

 

Some of the students at Gateway are homeless or foster youth. Some get sent to Gateway because they brought a knife to school, were caught fighting, or because they had troubles with drugs and/or alcohol. Some are sent there because they failed to attend school at all.

 

"For many of them, the education system hasn't worked," adds Price. "When they come to Gateway, we help them to build relationships with the staff and teachers. We care and we pay attention, and we build their trust; then they gain confidence in themselves and want to perform."

 

In addition to their academic program, students benefit from the outside services of Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY) and the Cleo Eulau Center counseling interns who provide individual and group counseling. Cleo Eulau also provides counselors at the high schools throughout the Sequoia Union High School district for students who return to comprehensive high schools from the SMCOE programs. Gateway has its own garden, and the students have the opportunity to work there, and learn about gardening and nutrition. The school has also been piloting online learning and Restorative Justice programs.

 

The 17th District PTA  adopted the school. Volunteers led by liaison Lori McBride, who was present at graduation, started an online fundraising program and raised more than enough money for class sets of books and art supplies. "With thanks to volunteers who donated generously at Woodside and Carlmont High Schools, and Taylor Middle School, we accomplished our fundraising goal. We wanted to get the word out about these students, go to their school and see how the program works. After all, it's the PTA's role to advocate for all kids."

 

At the graduation ceremony, student salutatorian Nicole Tran encouraged her fellow graduates to have balance in their lives and follow their dreams. "We've learned the importance of our education. Many of us have had to overcome adversity to get to where we are. Now that we are adults, it is our responsibility to take action and change our paths." Tran is now attending the Art Institute of California in San Francisco, studying culinary arts. She hopes someday to be a famous chef.

 

Other graduates of Gateway plan to go to college, trade school or begin working. One recent past graduate became a supervisor of maintenance for a local bus company. He came back to Gateway to talk to students and inspired them to succeed.

 

Rod Hsiao, President of the San Mateo County Board of Education, addressed the students, as did several other dignitaries including: Megan Price; Joan Rosas, SMCOE Associate Superintendent, Student Services; Stuart Forrest, Chief, San Mateo County Probation Department; and Anne Campbell, San Mateo County Superintendent.

 

Hsiao advised the students, "Graduation is the culmination of a lot of work. It's okay to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them." He then told the story of George Crum, the inventor of the potato chip. In 1853 Crum worked in a restaurant and made some French fries that came out too thick, so a diner complained. He then sliced the potatoes ultra-thin, fried them to a crisp and added more than enough salt to make a point. The diner loved them and the potato chip became a hit."We are all rooting for you," said Hsiao. "As you bite into your next potato chip, remember what deliciousness can come from your mistake."

 

 

Kauffmann Honored as San Mateo County Teacher of the Year

  

 

Rafael Kauffmann, English and journalism teacher at Carlmont High School in the Sequoia Union High School District, was honored as the San Mateo County Teacher of the Year for 2012 at the May 2, 2012 meeting of the San Mateo County Board of Education.

 

"Being selected was an acknowledgement of the persistence it takes to be a teacher," says Kauffmann. "It's an affirmation of what we are trying to do as a department at Carlmont High rather than an award just for me."

 

At Carlmont for all seven years of his teaching career, Kauffmann has taught journalism, all grades of English, andRafael Kauffmann English Learner development. He currently serves as the English department chairperson and instructional leader, providing ongoing support and guidance to new and veteran teachers alike.

 

Before becoming a teacher Kauffmann worked in the music recording industry for 10 years. "One day I realized that any success I had was due to my education, and I wanted to have that effect on kids," he notes. So he went back to school at San Francisco State University to get his teaching credential, and has been happily teaching ever since. "I'm glad I made the change. It's a challenging job and I still feel like a novice after seven years. Teaching is not a job where you reach the summit and call it a day. You have to keep working on it or you will stagnate," he adds.

 

"Our school is honored to be awarded this level of excellence," commented Carlmont Principal Raul Zamora. "Rafael is passionate about his students and extremely supportive of our school. He is very reflective in his approach and a team player."

 

Applications for the 2013 San Mateo County Teacher of the Year are due June 22. For 2013 the application has been streamlined and the selection will have two divisions: PreK-8, and grades 9-12 plus the adult division. Two teachers will be selected in July and then will have the option to apply to be the California State Teacher of the Year. The announcement of the 2013 San Mateo County Teacher of the Year will take place in August.

 

 

Science and Social Studies Teachers Take Off For Summer Program in China

 

Eighteen lucky science and social studies teachers from around the Bay Area will soon be taking off for a three-week trip of study and travel in China as part of the Committee of 100 Summer Institute on China. Because this year's theme is "renewable energy," participants will have the opportunity to spend part of their time visiting renewable energy sites and learning about the technology the Chinese are using in this area.

 

 

In addition, they will have classes in Chinese history and culture, and opportunities to interact with local teachers and students at Hangzhou Wanxiang Polytechnic in Hangzhou.

They'll visit the cities of Beijing, Xi'an, Hangzhou and Shanghai. Before taking off for China, the teachers will have several days of pre-trip orientation with lectures from UC Berkeley and Stanford faculty. Upon their return to the Bay Area, they will share their experiences with their colleagues and create lessons to share with their students.

 

The program, now in its fifth year, is sponsored by the Committee of 100 (a national nonpartisan organization composed of American citizens of Chinese descent whose mission is to encourage stronger relations between the U.S. and Greater China), and corporate partner Wanxiang America, a renewable energy company based in Chicago, in partnership with the San Mateo County Office of Education and the University of California at Berkeley,

 

Thanks to these sponsorships, teachers are only required to pay a fee of $500 to participate. The rest of the expenses -- visa, airfare, lodging, meals, activities and transportation in China -- are covered.

 

Earlier this year, the United States State Department designated the Committee of 100 Summer Institute as one of its"100,000 Strong" programs. The 100,000 Strong Initiative is designed to increase dramatically the number and diversify the composition of American students studying in China, and to prepare the next generation of American experts on China who will be charged with managing the growing political, economic and cultural ties between the United States and China. The initiative also seeks to develop specific opportunities and funding sources for underrepresented students to study in China.

 

 

School Administrators Go to China, too

 

 

Teachers are not the only ones experiencing travel to China this year. In the spring, three San Mateo County administrators had the opportunity to visit Shanghai as part of the Shanghai Principals Exchange sponsored by the UCLA Confucius Institute, whose mission is to promote the teaching and learning of Chinese language, history, and culture.

 

Linda McDaniel, principal at Sandpiper Elementary School in Redwood City; Maria Lang-Gavidia, director of special

Principals visit Shanghai school
San Mateo County administrators and liaison Karen Clancy visit schools in Shanghai.

programs for the Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary School District and former principal at Cipriani School in Belmont; and Cherie Ho, principal at Redwood Shores Elementary, all visited Shanghai during their spring break. Karen Leong Clancy, former school board member who brought the program to Belmont-Redwood Shores School District, accompanied the administrators.

 

"It was a great experience to think about education in California and compare how other countries regard education," Clancy said. The group, who had hosted principals from Shanghai at their schools last year, reciprocated by visiting the schools of these principals, including a special education school -- a relatively new concept and quite unusual in China. "In the past, Chinese educators didn't quite know what to do for their students with special needs," Clancy noted. "This particular school is now considered a model for special education in China."

 

"It was an extraordinary experience for all of us. I was impressed by the self-discipline of the students and their appreciation of the instruction and opportunity to study. Students must compete for good schools whether they are 5 or 15 years old," noted Ho. McDaniel agrees and added, "I was impressed with the commitment of the staff to engage students in their learning."

 

The UCLA Confucius Institute is looking into ways to continue this exchange program in the future.

 

 

 

 

Teacher Training on PEAK Coming to SMCOE This Summer 

 

 

Promoting Energy Action and Knowledge (PEAK), a program of the Energy Coalition, is partnering with Resource Area for Teachers (RAFT) at SMCOE, to provide professional development for teachers this summer.

 

On August 25 at RAFT, teachers will get training in PEAK curriculum, a toolkit of materials for their hands-on science labs, substitute reimbursement (or a stipend), and ongoing implementation support at no cost. In addition, participants will do a hands-on RAFT activity and receivefree entry to the RAFT store.

 

PEAK is a standards-based program for third through seventh grades that focuses on the science of energy and empowers students to become smart energy managers through hands-on lab and action activities.

Space is limited. See a list of PEAK's upcoming trainings and register here.

 

More information is available at www.peakstudents.org or by contacting aknox@energycoalition.org or (510) 444-5060 ext. 15.

 

Check Us Out on Facebook

   

The San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) now has a page on Facebook. We'll be providing frequent updfacebook logoates on SMCOE events and education news of interest, adding groups of interest, and linking to other education organizations. Check us out and "like" us today on Facebook!  
 
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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 23 public school districts, charter schools, the Community College District and County Office of Education staff. 
 
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