Standing in his classroom at Camp Miller in Malibu, Roger Espinosa -- LACOE Teacher of the Year -- is working in the same area where he and his twin brother used to play as toddlers.

"My father used to take us to work, way back when the camps had no fences yet," said Espinosa, who has been holding industrial arts classes -- from wood shop and welding to carpentry -- at LACOE's probation camp schools for more than three decades.

Espinosa's father, the late John Espinosa, was a math and science teacher at Camp Scott-Scudder and Camp Kilpatrick from the 1950s to 1984, when he retired from LACOE. He was credited for many classroom innovations, including the use of standardized textbooks. He was hired by the famous Frank Wykoff, then director of Special Schools (now Educational Programs), who made history in his younger days as the only athlete to have won three Olympic relay gold medals.

Espinosa remembers meeting Wykoff at holiday barbecues and getting to know some of the students whose lives his father touched.

"As a young man, I realized how my dad and the other teachers made a difference in the students' lives," he said.

Read the full story here.

Photo: LACOE Teacher of the Year Roger Espinosa of Juvenile Court Schools works with students in his classroom at Camp Miller in Malibu.

Parents whose children are deaf or hard of hearing face many challenges in helping their sons and daughters succeed in school.

"First and foremost, our parents desire to learn how to communicate better with their child," said Michelle Dong, a LACOE speech-language pathologist in the Division of Special Education. "They need to learn how to create a language-rich environment at home."

Dong and colleague Kathy Magana-Gomez have stepped up to develop specialized classes for parents of children served by LACOE's auditory oral program at Ward Elementary in Downey. The program focuses on helping youngsters develop spoken language and academic skills needed for success in the regular classroom environment.

"We wanted to establish a relationship with parents outside of the IEP setting and truly get to know the families we serve," Magana-Gomez said. "Many parents feel isolated and want to connect with others who are in their same situation."

Read the full story here.

Photo 1: LACOE speech-language pathologists Kathy Magana-Gomez and Michelle Dong (far left, l-r) at a session with parents of students who are deaf or hard of hearing at Ward Elementary in Downey.

Photo 2: Parents participate in a group activity to learn how to read aloud to their child who is deaf or hard of hearing.

Five youngsters who have beaten the odds to finish high school and attend college were recognized Jan. 6 by the Association of L.A. County Office School Administrators.

ALACOSA, the group that represents many LACOE managers, presented the winners of its annual Every Student Succeeding scholarship program at a celebratory event held in the Downey Conference Center.

The students from LACOE's Juvenile Court School and Alternative, Migrant and Special Education programs each received a $500 scholarship. They had overcome obstacles such as drug abuse, delinquency and physical disability.

Also honored at the event were winners of ALACOSA's Administrator of the Year Awards. The recipients and their award title are: Helen Ford (ABD), Business Services Administrator; Freddy Saucedo (CTE), Career Technical Education; Diana Velasquez (DSP), Central Office Administrator; Maryam Shayegh (CIS), Classified Manager; Michelle Herczog (CIS), Curriculum and Instruction; Joyce Fisher (HRS), Personnel/Human Resources; Jennifer Gomeztrejo (SSS), Pupil Personnel Administrator; Norberto Perez (JCS), Secondary Principal; Jim Anderson (DSE), Special Education Administrator, and Johan Madrigal (TS), Technology Administrator.

In other news from ALACOSA, the plight of homeless people motivated members to participate in the United Way Home Walk on Nov. 15 at the L.A. Coliseum.

Thirteen ALACOSA members, family and friends were among the 13,300 participants who helped raise $1.29 million that will help provide housing for more than 1,300 people. View photos here.

Photo 1: Among those receiving the Every Student Succeeding scholarship were (l-r) Stephanie Valdivia, Jovany Barba and Angel Ruiz.

Photo 2: ALACOSA's administrators of the year include (l-r) Jim Anderson, Freddy Saucedo, Diana Velasquez, Michelle Herczog, Maryam Shayegh, Helen Ford, Johan Madrigal and Norberto Perez.

 

Start the new year by helping dedicated high school students compete in the L.A. County Academic Decathlon.

Volunteers age 18 and older are needed to serve as speech and interview judges on day one of the competition on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera.

More than 300 volunteers are needed to score the student speeches and interviews. No experience is necessary and all training is provided at the event.

Continental breakfast, lunch from In-N-Out Burger and free parking are provided. The attire is comfortable and casual.

This is a perfect opportunity to support more than 600 high school students. (Click here to see the list of participating high schools.)

If you are looking for a rewarding way to support education while having a great time, click here to register online.

Watch a video with highlights from the 2014 Academic Decathlon here.

The L.A. County Academic Decathlon is organized by LACOE's Communications Department. For more information, contact Susan Bishop, events coordinator, x6500 or email bishop_susan@lacoe.edu

"The Homestretch," a documentary about three homeless teens who fight to stay in school, graduate and build a future, will screen at LACOE on Jan. 22.

According to the film's website, the smart, ambitious teenagers will surprise, inspire and challenge audiences to rethink stereotypes of homelessness as they work to complete their education.

More than 62,000 students have been identified as homeless in L.A. County. LACOE works to ensure these youth receive an appropriate education through its Division of Student Support Services. Learn more here.

The screening will take place in the EC Board Room on Jan. 22 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Please register by calling x6247 or email Grace Gonzalez.

Yvonne Johnson, a secretary with LACOE for 18 years, died this past summer following a long illness. Johnson joined LACOE in March 1996 and retired in June 2014. She served in a number of LACOE divisions, working most recently for the Controller's Office.

Expressions of condolence may be sent to: 15912 Casimir Ave., Gardena 90249.

LACOE STEM consultant Anthony Quan is the co-author of an article recently featured in "California Classroom Science," a publication of the California Science Teachers Association. Read the article "Planning Professional Learning Using the NGSS [Next Generation Science Standards] Implementation Pathway Model" here.