California's first Educare School to break ground in San Jose
 On June 5, California's first Educare School will break ground on its early learning center, professional development institute and family resource center in San Jose. The Educare School will focus on children from birth to five years old, preparing them to perform on the first day of kindergarten. A signature component of the Educare School will be its Professional Development Institute, a center that will provide high-quality training to early education providers and K-8 teachers from throughout the Bay Area and northern California in the latest science and evidence-based teaching methods.  Educare teachers will work with children and their parents to develop pre-literacy and early math skills, with the goal of preventing the achievement gap that takes root between children in poverty and their middle-income peers long before they enter kindergarten.
"The SCCOE is excited to collaborate with Educare and our local partners to make  this facility a reality," said Interim County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Ann Dewan. "This certainly broadens and strengthens our existing partnerships, affirms our commitment to early learning and its potential to close the achievement gap, and our shared dedication to providing high-quality early childhood education programs." The Silicon Valley Leadership Group, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, First 5 Santa Clara County, Franklin-McKinley School District, Health Trust, East Side Union High School District and the Santa Clara County Office of Education pledged over $11 million for the Educare Early Childhood Education School and Teacher Professional Development Institute in September 2013. The groundbreaking will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 5 at 1313 Audubon Drive, adjacent to Santee Elementary School.
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Board gets update on LCFF
Here's a summary of some of the actions taken by the Board at its May 7 and 21 meetings:
- Heard an update on the impact of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) on county-sponsored charter schools;
- recognized six school district employees who were chosen as Santa Clara County's honorees for the California Department of Education's (CDE) annual Classified School Employee of the Year competition;
- recognized Sheila Walters, Mathematics and Science Coordinator, as Employee of the Month for May;
- and approved resolutions in honor of California's Day of the Teacher, National School Nurse Day and National Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
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. |
Since 1852, the Santa Clara County Office of Education has provided vital services and resources to the county's 32 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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County Classified School Employees of the Year honored by board
The Santa Clara County Board of Education honored Santa Clara County's six finalists for Classified Employee of the Year at its May 21 board meeting.
Each year, the California Department of Education (CDE) invites county offices of education across the state to participate in the annual Classified School Employee of the Year (CSEY) program. The CSEY program highlights the contributions of classified school employees in six separate categories who provide essential services and support to the education of California's K-12 public school students.
This year's honorees are:
- Child Nutrition: Brenda Gonzalez, Campbell Union School District
- Maintenance & Operations: Josefina Corona, Alum Rock Union School District
- Office & Technical: Patricia Toves, Alum Rock Union School District
- Paraeducator & Instructional Assistance: Karen Ireland, Cupertino Union School District
- Support Services & Security: Debbie Nogales, Campbell Union School District
- Transportation: Shellie Lansing, Campbell Union School District
The CDE reviews all nominations from across California and identifies six exemplary classified school employees for the statewide award. The statewide finalists were announced by the CDE on May 1.
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SCCOE celebrates dedication at Seven Trees Educational Center
 On April 30, the Santa Clara County Office of Education dedicated its newest special education site, the Seven Trees Educational Center.
Located in the Franklin-McKinley School District, this new site is already providing services to students with autism, and will also have classrooms for students with behavioral challenges and other students with different disabilities.
The building features exterior walls constructed from Styrofoam forms and poured concrete to help with noise reduction for the students with special needs served at the site.
The site will serve students from multiple school districts, from Milpitas Unified to Gilroy Unified, and will provide a student to staff ration that maximizes instructional opportunities.
 The SCCOE's General Services department under the leadership of Director Craig Wilde, was instrumental in the construction of the site. Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, Interim County Superintendent of Schools, and Board of Education President Leon Beauchman presided over the dedication, which featured the unveiling of the school plaque, a ceremonial tree planting with several of the school's students and an official ribbon cutting to honor the new facility.
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