New Chief Schools Officer assumes post this month
 

Dr. Mary Ann Dewan has been named Chief Schools Officer at the SCCOE. Previously the Executive Director of the Central Indiana Educational Service Center (CIESC), a public educational agency that provides services to 22 public school districts and operates programs for students throughout the state, Dewan joined the SCCOE on Oct. 21.

In her role, Dewan will lead the SCCOE's Student Services branch, which administers the office's educational and student programs including Alternative Education, Environmental Education, Early Learning Services, Foster Youth Services, Migrant Education and Special Education.

"We're very fortunate to bring on board such an experienced educator to oversee our Student Services Branch," said Dr. Xavier De La Torre, Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools. "Dr. Dewan's expertise in educational administration will be invaluable as we continue to provide vital services to students across the county."

Prior to her role with CIESC, Dewan served as Assistant Superintendent and Director of Special Education for the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township in Indianapolis, IN. She has also taught and been a principal for Indianapolis Public Schools.

Dewan succeeds former Student Services head Linda Aceves, who retired in June.

 

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Outstanding SCCOE programs honored with the Golden Bell  
  
The SCCOE's Inclusion Collaborative and Curriculum & Instruction programs have been chosen as two of the 59 recipients of the state's leading educational honor, the Golden Bell Award.
  
Presented by the California School Boards Association (CSBA), this prestigious award recognizes public school programs that have made a demonstrated difference in the classroom, focus on meeting the needs of all students and which are innovative and sustainable.

 

Children with and without special needs play and learn togetherThe Inclusion Collaborative's entry, All Children Learning and Playing Together, centered around its long-term objective of removing the many barriers that prevent children with disabilities from being included in high-quality learning environments. The Inclusion Collaborative supports community programs, schools and districts in the creation and implementation of inclusion models and provides professional development and on-site coaching so that teachers and staff feel confident instructing in inclusive classrooms.
  
Curriculum & Instruction's submission focused on the Curriculum Leadership Council (CLC), a capacity building program for teacher leaders to guide implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Over the last four years, more than 450 teachers and staff from 27 districts in Santa Clara County Have participated in CLC, working to build knowledge of the CCSS, share best practices to support rigorous instruction, integrate 21st century skills into schools and close the achievement gap.

 

An 11-member judging panel made up of experts from school districts and county offices of education reviewed all written entries and made initial recommendations for awards. Finalists were assessed through an on-site visit, evaluating the programs in action.

  

Both of the SCCOE's honorees will receive their awards at a recognition ceremony to be held on Saturday, Dec. 7 at the CSBA's Annual Education Conference in San Diego.

  

Now in its 34th year, the Golden Bell Awards program promotes excellence in education, recognizing school district and county office of education programs throughout the state.

  

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Board approves Alpha 2 petition
 
Here's a summary of actions taken by the Board at its Oct. 2 and 16 meetings:
  • Approved a petition from Alpha Public Schools to open the Alpha 2 middle school in the Alum Rock Union School District
  • Recognized Classified Personnel Specialist Jonathan Mu�oz as Employee of the Month for October
  • Held a public hearing regarding sufficiency of textbooks and instructional materials in the county's schools
  • Heard an update on the 2013-2016 Strategic Plan

The Board of Education is the elected governing body of the SCCOE. 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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In This Issue
Dr. Mary Ann Dewan named Chief Schools Officer
SCCOE programs awarded with the Golden Bell
Board actions in October
Silicon Valley Reads launches for 2014
PBIS Symposium, Nov. 18
Marion Cilker Conference for Arts in Education

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A new year of books for Silicon Valley to share

As Silicon Valley Reads 2014 launches, Santa Clara County residents will ponder how technology has affected the way they read and the books they choose to read. The theme for this year's program is "Books and Technology: Friends or Foes?," asking readers to consider how the definition of books is being redefined and whether the widespread availability of digital reading devices has improved or hindered our ability to read critically and thoughtfully.

Silicon Valley Reads is an annual effort co-presented by the SCCOE to get the community reading together and discussing the same books.

Silicon Valley Reads booksBook selections for the 12th annual presentation of the community literacy project are The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr and Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Stone. 

A kickoff event on Jan. 22 at the Heritage Theatre in Campbell will feature an interview with each of the authors. A series of discussions, film showings and other activities focused on the books will be held throughout the county through April. The full schedule of events will be posted in December on the Silicon Valley Reads website.

To ensure that families can participate together, several companion books for younger readers have also been selected, including The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce and illustrated by Joe Bluhm, for children ages 4-9; Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein, for children 8 and older; and Reading Makes You Feel Good by Todd Parr, for preschoolers.

Silicon Valley Reads is presented annually by the SCCOE, Santa Clara County Library and the San Jose Public Library Foundation, with funding from community groups,  and corporate and individual donors.

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First ever PBIS symposium this November
 

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, of the COE's Assessment and Accountability department, is hosting the first annual Northern California PBIS Symposium on Monday, Nov. 18.

This event will focus on PBIS, a decision-making framework that guides selection, integration and implementation of the best evidence-based practices for improving behavior outcomes for all students.

Directed at district administrators and staff, principals, teachers and school counselors, the event's workshops will cover topics ranging from PBIS and cultural responsiveness to mental health and restorative justice.

Keynote speakers include Rob Horner, Ph.D., professor of special education at he University of Oregon, and Lucille Eber, Ed.D., State Director of the Illinois Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Network.

Click here to register.

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SCCOE & SJSU cohost arts in education conference 
 
 
Now in its fifth year, the Marion Cilker Conference for Arts in Education will be held on Nov. 16 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the SCCOE's Ridder Park offices.
 
Named after artist and San Jose State University alumnus Marion Cilker, the conference encourages teachers of all subjects in grades Pre-K to 8 to incorporate arts activities and lesson plans into their own curriculum and classrooms.
 
The day includes two hands-on, 90 minute workshops, an arts expo with more than two dozen vendors and an arts performance. This year's workshops will focus on how arts activities can be tied to the common core, especially to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects.  
 
Registration is $40, or $10 for teachers from Title I schools. The first 100 teachers to sign up will receive free registration. Breakfast is included in the program, along with a raffle of great memberships and prizes donated by community sponsors.
 
A companion event for SJSU students will be held the day before on Nov. 15.
 

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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 is commited to serving, inspiring and promoting student and public school success.

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