November 2013
Message from Wally

 

Happy Holidays! I can't believe how time flies! It seems like yesterday that we were welcoming back our students for another school year. I don't need to tell you that this has been one of the busiest school years in history. New funding formulas, new standards, new accountability plans and new assessment systems all are in the start-up mode. While all the changes can seem somewhat overwhelming, it does bring energy and focus on education, for that, I am thankful. My holiday wish is that we are able to implement these new initiatives with quality to fully benefit each and every child in Lake County. Thank you for all your efforts to "Teach, Learn and Serve."

 

Please keep in mind the following events in the upcoming weeks:

 

LCOE Warehouse Open House, Tuesday December 10, 10:00 am, Hance Education Center

 

Holidays/Non workdays/Office Closed 

November 27-29

December 23-25

January 1

 

Thanks and have a great week!

 

 Wally

 

Excellence in Education Award Program

 

Lake County Office of Education hosted the 19th Annual Excellence in Education and Teacher of the Year Award Program, held November 2 at the Soper-Reese Theatre in Lakeport.  This event honored the county teacher of the year, district teachers of the year, as well as others who have positively impacted education in Lake County.

 

Wally Holbrook, Lake County Superintendent of Schools, says, "Stories of educators and the impact on their students is inspiring.  We can all be proud of the hard working, dedicated, compassionate people who serve our children every day." 

 

Read the full article Link




Erica Boomer, Lake County Educator of the Year - Upper Lake High School, pictured with Sandy Coatney, Vice Principal, Upper Lake High School 
This and all event photos courtesy of Bob Rider Photography

Survey Link | Link

Download Paper Survey | Download

Download Paper Drawing Entry Form | Download

For more information | [email protected] | 707-262-4162

Stars of Lake County honors Wally Holbrook, 2013 Man of the Year

Congratulations to Lake County's Superintendent of Schools, Wally Holbrook for his recognition as 2013 Man of the Year at the  Stars of Lake County event Saturday night.  

 

Following are excerpts from the tribute read on his behalf at the award event:

 

"Wally Holbrook has taken his position as Lake County Superintendent of Schools to heart and has been working hard to improve the education, health and welfare of our county and its youth.  One of the first goals Wally chose to approach was to improve the reading abilities and choices for people of all ages.  He established a Literacy Task Force of local educators and other volunteers to promote literacy. The Literacy projects under his guidance include The Big Read, Imagination Library, Lake County Reads and Schools of Hope.  Each of these programs promotes reading for all ages across the county through workshops, events, publications and in-school programs.  

 

 "Wally has implemented many other noteworthy and exemplary innovations through his role as County Superintendent of Schools. He has used his unique leadership skills to promote cooperation and improvement in not only educational matters, but in all matters of health and social services to the community and particularly its youth; [an example of which is his support of the development of The Hub.] He is not only a very involved and innovative County Superintendent of Schools, but a significant contributor to the overall welfare of Lake County.

 

Following are a few words, ideas and comments from LCOE staff, about why Wally is deserving of this recognition:

 

"Teacher!"

"Encourager"

"Passionate"

"Authentic"


"I am so proud that Wally is our Superintendent.   He is the most honest, ethical and hard-working man I have ever known!  He truly cares about all of the children in Lake County and strives to offer them the best education possible!" 

 

"I appreciate Wally because he recognizes the importance of play for both adults and children which supports learning for all."

 

"Wally is authentic, enthusiastic, kind and genuinely passionate about this work.  He leads by example -- working harder and smarter than most -- never losing sight of the humanity of it, keeping the people the priority."

 

 "Wally is approachable and comfortable to talk to, he always makes time to say hello."

 

"Wally is truly committed to making a difference for Lake County students and families. His positive attitude is contagious!" 

 

 

 

 

Imagination Library celebrates 1st Anniversary

It is the 1st Anniversary of the Imagination Library a program of the Lake County Literacy Task Force. With the help of our friends and donors over 1168 books have been put into the homes of 161 of Lake County's youngest residents. That is 18% of Lake County residents, ages 0-4.

 

It only takes $25 to give a child a book each month for one year!  This gift of literacy writes a lasting page in the book of literacy for each recipient.  The Imagination Library, coordinated by the Lake County Literacy Task Force, sends a challenge and a request to Lake County to add a page to the book of Literacy for Lake County's youngest residents.

 

Your donation will provide an annual membership into the Imagination Library Program for a deserving child aged 0-4 who resides in Lake County.  

 

This opportunity comes just in time for gift giving and the spirit of generosity toward others that lasts year long.  Gather up your co-workers and friends and write your page in the book being written to ensure that all children have books in their home and literacy in their lives.  Gift cards commemorating your donation 'in honor' of a special person and tax deductible donation receipts will be mailed to all donors.  

 

All questions about and donations for the Imagination Library can be directed to the Lake County Office of Education at 1152 S. Main St., Lakeport CA 95453.  You may also email Stephanie Wayment at [email protected] or call 707-262-4128.

 

Click here for more information and to access the Imagination Library Donation Form.

LCOE  provides leadership for implementation of Lake County's Local Control Accountability Plans

Due to the passage of prop. 30, and the implementation of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), all schools/districts will be required to develop Accountability Plans.

 

To assist Lake County schools in the design and implementation of the "LCAPs", Lake County Superintendent of Schools, Wally Holbrook, has designated LCOE Education Specialist, Stephanie Wayment to lead and coordinate the effective implementation efforts in Lake County.

 

"We are fortunate to have someone like Stephanie who has the skills, background and expertise to help guide us through this important process."

 

Stephanie will be working with staff, administrators, School Boards and community members to design and implement Accountability Plans based on eight state-wide agreed upon components, priority areas and locally determined priorities, to improve student learning for all children.

 

The LCAPs will be a critical part of the improvement process, and will also serve as a guide in future budget development and allocation of resources to insure all students have access to those resources.

  

Lake County school districts are currently familiarizing themselves with the new funding formula and criteria to begin the development of plans. The LCAP will need to be approved by Local School Boards and reviewed by the County Superintendent prior to the approval of the District's annual budget.

  

Periodic updates and progress will be available through the LCOE website and local School District sources.

 

For more information on LCFF visit lcffwested.org or contact Stephanie Wayment at 707-262-4163.

 

 

Congratulations to Lower Lake High School - students and coaching staff honored at the 2013 Stars of Lake County Award Night
Erick Pelayo-Moreno
2013 Male Student of the Year

Erick is a determined, focused and passionate learner.  He takes as many advanced placement courses as are available, and has tested advanced in at least four subject areas of the California Standards Testing. 
 
His determination extends to his athletic endeavors.  He is a significant contributor to the Lower Lake High School football team.  In his main sport, wrestling, he is a powerful contender, winning dozens of medals.  Of note, was his 2013 victory at the Middletown tournament, where he received the highest tournament award, not only because of his athleticism, but primarily because of his sportsmanship.                
Erick believes in giving back, and he is especially inspired to encourage and inspire young athletes.  He volunteers generously and enthusiastically of his time to coach and mentor young wrestlers.  As of Summer 2013, he had nearly 300 community service hours.  The tenderness, focused attention and respect he gives each child is heartwarming. 
 
A member of Upward Bound, Erick is focused on being accepted to a four-year university, and he will be the first member of his family who has ever attended college.  He is interested in a medical career focused on pediatrics.  With his sensitivity, intelligence and kindness, he will no doubt be successful.  
 

Michelle Page

2013 Female Student of the Year

 

Michelle is currently ranked third in her senior class and maintains a 4.02 grade point average.  She challenges herself in all subject areas, including Advanced Placement classes in English, United States History, and Calculus.  She holds the distinction of being the highest scoring member of her Academic Decathlon team.  Her overall leadership skills, scholarship and passion led the faculty to nominate her to attend the prestigious Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Seminar.

 

Michelle also plays the alto saxophone and is first chair in both the Jazz Band and Concert Band.  As part of the Upward Bound Program her goal is to attend USC where she plans to study Forensic Science. She has already taken several courses at Mendocino Community College, including Introduction to Psychology, Personality Theory and Ethics.

 

Michelle excels as an athlete in both Volleyball and Basketball. She has volunteered as a referee for the Konocti Basketball League, helping younger students learn the game. Her volunteer service to the community also includes working for the San Francisco Food Bank, coaching for Junior Varsity Basketball Camp, and helping out at numerous local events and fundraisers.

In spite of her many accomplishments, Michelle is unassuming and always ready to help others. Michelle has done much to improve the culture of her campus and community.

 

Tim Biasotti

2013 Hero of the Year 

 

Tim is truly a Hero to the students and basketball team at Lower Lake High School. Tim is the Lower Lake High School basketball coach who learned on Superbowl Sunday 2013, in the middle of basketball season, that our community lost it's star athlete to suicide. His name was Jesse Meldrum. He was the heart of the basketball program, a strong leader, with a bright future. He took his life that day physically, but that was not all, he not only broke the hearts of hundreds around the county, he broke a group of high school boys into a million pieces. He left them thinking if Jesse didn't believe in life, why should, or how could they?  This team, these young teenage boys, needed a hero. It was Tim that, at a young age of just 24, had to become a man himself that day. He had to pick up a team of broken-spirited boys, rise above his own pain, and give these boys hope again...to make them realize that life didn't have to end that way.

 

Tim made this team a family again. We don't know how he did it, we couldn't, but he was able to do for these kids what parents could not, he gave them hope, he gave them life back, he created a bond with these boys beyond measure of an average coach, never leaving their side following the next few months of the tragedy and he continues still today. He saved the lives of Jesse's best friends, made them live again even though Jesse was trying to teach his friends the easy way out of a hard life. Tim made them value life, value each other. Forever he is a community hero!

 



Like us on FaceBook!
Like us on Facebook  
Academic Decathlon Scrimmage
Lake County, Calif., Academic Decathlon students met for a scrimmage on Saturday, November 2, 2013. They included, back row, left to right, Claire Ryan, Madison Boyd, Nicole Maines, Justin Lombardo, Nate Smit, Cassidy Holmes, Tiara Richards and Wroehnyn Milks; front row, left to right, Eduardo Alatorre, Merin Rixen, Maeve Rixen, Aimee Barnes, Jordin Simons, David Becerra, Juan Ruiz, Arthur Wilkie and Alberto Lopez.

 

 Academic Decathlon students tested their knowledge of World War I on Saturday in a scrimmage event.

 

Eleven students from Kelseyville High and six students from Upper Lake High were early risers as they arrived at the Lake County Office of Education Clearlake Office to take seven subject exams.

 

Students challenged themselves in mathematics, art, economics, social science, music, science and language/literature.

 

Although no medals are awarded for their performance at this scrimmage, results are given to the coaches and students.

 

These students - along with the rest of their teams and schools from around the lake - will meet again on Jan. 25 for the speech and interview portion of the completion and then for the last part of the county competition on Feb. 1.

 

For more information about the Academic Decathlon, please contact Tammy Serpa at [email protected] or at 707-350-3116.

Tresa Thorley Lakeport Unified School District Teacher of the Year

 

Mrs. Thorley is that teacher at Terrace School. She is the teacher that all the students love and respect.

 

There are many qualities that determine what makes an outstanding teacher, and I am convinced that Tresa Thorley has them all.

 

Students share that Mrs. Thorley's positive attitude is what they like most. She makes them feel that they can do and learn anything.  Tresa's positive attitude and energy are contagious.

 

"I love being in Mrs. Thorley's class. She is super easy to talk to and she has an amazing way of teaching so that everyone just gets it. She is always positive about everything and really nice. And best of all, you can tell that she really loves science." Student

 

"Tresa is a great colleague and a great teacher. She knows how to reach the students both academically and emotionally. She makes science come alive for the kids and it makes a big difference to them." Colleague

LCOE opens new Clearlake Workforce Training and Career Center in partnership with WorkForce Lake
The Workforce Training and Career Center opened on November 18 and is a partnership between the LCOE Career and College Readiness Department and WorkForce Lake.  The new site is located at:

14092 Lakeshore Drive 
Clearlake 
(two doors down from the Main Street Bar & Grill).  

We have a wonderful conference room, dedicated medical classroom, 14- station computer lab and an Employment Resource Lab. 

Our Certified Nurse Assistant classes have already started utilizing their classroom and we hope to have the computer lab up and running by the end of the week. The main focus of the computer lab is to improve skills to assist those in increasing their employ-ability and education.
 
Students work with teacher guidance on a variety of topics including Microsoft Office Programs, GED preparation, general subjects and more.The Employment Resource Lab is a free service offered through WorkForce Lake. 
 
Tammy Serpa, LCOE Program Specialist, says of their first day, "It has been full all morning with people searching for jobs and working on resumes." 
 
The Workforce Training and Career Center is the new home for LCOE staff members Amy Kiss, Kim Boles-Cravea and Tammy Serpa, who extend an open for all to stop in and say hello. There is parking both in front and behind the building. 

Workforce Training & Education Center
14092 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake
Phone: 994-9001  Fax: 994-9008
Monday - Friday 8:00 - 4:30

A special "thank you" to Joel Miller, Robin Totorica, Wayne Martin and Juan Huerta for their support and help during this transition.

Submit articles for future issues of The Education Briefs

Do you have an interest story, event or relevant information to share in an upcoming issue of the Education Briefs? We would love to hear from you. Click here to complete the Media Request Form, or contact Shelly Mascari at [email protected].

Burns Valley School marks Red Ribbon Week
 
"Smoothie Bike"

 

Burns Valley School Red Ribbon Week took place October 21-25.

The 2013 National Campaign theme is "A Healthy Me is Drug Free."

 

Burns Valley students commemorated this theme with a door decorating contest, dress-up days, lunchtime learning and presentations.

 

The week began with the students receiving bracelets reminding them to be drug free.

 

A "smoothie bike," on loan from North Coast Opportunities, helped students to get activity while choosing healthy snacks.

 

Read more
Team DUI presentation at Burns Valley School

Submitted by Gina Dickson

 

Burns Valley seventh and eighth graders participated in presentations from Team DUI, a local organization tasked with getting the word out about the dangers of drinking and driving and the ongoing effects such choices can have.

 

The students witnessed a video that depicted the stories of one accident and the effect it had on the victims, the perpetrator, the victims family and the perpetrators family.

Read more



 

ACSA 3.0 Leadership Summit
Launching our bold new future
The ASCA 2013 Leadership Summit was held November 7-9 in San Jose. This annual gathering of educators of all levels of administration is a celebration of the profession. This year Joan Reynolds, LCOE Healthy Start Director, presented a seminar entitled "The Role of Community School Partnerships in Addressing the Achievement Gap and Supporting Student Success - Schools Can Not Do This Alone. " 

Deanna Niebur, Joan Reynolds, Jan Christiansen and Ammar Saheli, presenters at the 2013 ASCA Leadership Summit.

Preschool students exhibit art 
at LCOE



News from the State Board of Education

11/6/2013 California teachers have new guidance from the State Board of Education as they continue implementing the California Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today. See the Mathematices framework here

 

11/16/13 State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson announces state approves middle grade recommendations for modern science standards  . See press release here

 

Check out your 2012-2013 School Quality Snapshot  here

 

Like us on Facebook  
For comments or submissions, contact Shelly Mascari at [email protected]
www.lakecoe.org


           

Copyright © 20XX. All Rights Reserved.