Silicon Valley Reads explores the immigrant experience
A diverse region where more than a third of residents were born outside the United States, Santa Clara County is home to people from all over the world. This year, Silicon Valley Reads will focus on the lives and stories of individuals who have made the United States their home, with the theme Homeland and Home: The Immigrant Experience.
 A trio of books has been chosen as this year's Silicon Valley Reads selections:
We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo,
The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez and
Stealing Buddha's Dinner by Bich (Beth) Minh Nguyen.
All three authors will attend the Silicon Valley Reads 2015 Kick-Off event on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at the Heritage Theatre in Campbell. Sal Pizarro of the Mercury News will interview the authors at this free community event.
Silicon Valley Reads is presented by the Santa Clara County Library District, the San Jose Public Library Foundation and the Santa Clara County Office of Education. With the goal of promoting the importance of reading and literacy, Silicon Valley Reads attempts to engage the community in a positive dialogue about themes in literature that reflect experiences and topics that resonate with Silicon Valley residents.
Companion books for children have also been selected for Silicon Valley Reads 2015: My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits, Dancing Home by Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel M. Zubizarett and Something about America by Maria Testa.
For more information, visit the Silicon Valley Reads website. A calendar of events will be published in December 2014.
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County's top teachers honored at Teacher Recognition gala event
Earlier this month, 35 of Santa Clara County's most dedicated and inspiring educators were honored at the 45th annual Teacher Recognition Celebration at the Heritage Theatre in Campbell.
Jon R. Gundry, County Superintendent of Schools, presided over the event as emcee for the evening, recognizing the incredible accomplishments of 29 district Teachers of the Year, along with six Texas Instruments STEM Teaching Award winners.
The Teacher Recognition Celebration has endured for more than four decades as a grand tradition of honoring teaching excellence in the region, with teachers selected for their creative methods in classroom instruction, commitment to providing all children with a strong foundation for future success and a dedication to lifelong learning.
Five videos were shown during the ceremony to highlight the best advice honorees had for their colleagues, the biggest challenges they faced in their chosen profession and the sweet rewards they had reaped from fostering creativity, innovation and academic success in their students. A video of the entire ceremony and photos from the event can be viewed on the Teacher Recognition website.
Coordinated by the Santa Clara County Office of Education, the Teacher Recognition Celebration is supported by several corporate and community partners, including co-sponsors Texas Instruments and the Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union.
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Board approves Spark Charter
Here's a summary of some of the actions taken by the Board at its Oct. 1 and 15 meetings:
- Approved a charter petition for Spark Charter School;
- held a public hearing on a charter petition for Morgan Hill Prep School;
- held a public hearing on a charter petition for Voices College-Bound Language Academy at Morgan Hill;
- honored Mitchell Ennis, teacher at Sunol Community School, as the SCCOE Teacher of the Year for 2014; and
- honored Carol Snow, teacher of students with severe disabilities at Herman Intermediate School, as Employee of the Month for October.
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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Cultivating digital citizenship for students and teachers
 In today's world, where technological advances are happening every day, students are constantly confronted with decisions about the appropriate use of technology - everything from texting, to posting photos and sharing their thoughts and opinions online.
Join the Santa Clara County Office of Education during Digital Citizenship Week from Oct. 19 to 25 to encourage students, teachers, families and the community at large to think critically, use safe behaviors and participate responsibly online.
Digital Citizenship Week provides a great opportunity to establish and/or renew your school or district's commitment to engaging students, parents, staff and community members in the learning process surrounding critical digital citizenship skills.
Common Sense Education has provided a multitude of tips, tools and suggested activities to assist schools and administrators in promoting good digital citizenship on campus and throughout the community.
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Inclusion Collaborative holds first ever statewide conference
 The first annual Inclusion Collaborative State Conference hosted by the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) and supported by the California Department of Education's (CDE) Special Education Division
will be held on Oct. 23 and 24. More than 260 individuals have registered for the two-day conference being held at the SCCOE's central office at 1290 Ridder Park Drive in San Jose from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Nationally-recognized experts in the fields of special education and inclusion will speak, focusing on evidence-based practices that can guide inclusive practices in the programs and communities of those involved in the care and education of children from birth to age 8 with and without disabilities. The conference will develop relationships across agencies, while creating a community of practice with the capability of supporting inclusion throughout California.
Twenty-five virtual sites around the state will also have participants tuning in to connect with and learn from their peers during the course of the conference.
In addition to supporting the work of this signature program through this first of its kind conference, the CDE has also selected the Inclusion Collaborative to serve as a statewide technical assistance center for inclusionary practices, supporting districts in the expansion of inclusive programs, schools and communities.
Jointly created by First 5 Santa Clara County, the Local Early Education Planning Council (LPC) and the SCCOE in 2004, the Inclusion Collaborative is committed to ensuring that children with special needs have equal access to full participation in high-quality, inclusive learning environments. The collaborative supports this goal by demonstrating respect for all children and families, providing leadership in the community, creating and implementing integrated delivery systems, offering training and education at all levels and establishing support for parents, providers, teachers and children.
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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 SCCOE 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 SCCOE is committed to serving, inspiring and promoting student and public school success.
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