As a member of the Workforce Investment Board in San Mateo County, she learned that there is a huge demand for qualified employees in the healthcare sector. With that knowledge, she and her staff have built a career-focused program, educating adults to become Certified Medical

Students use the latest technology in ROP classes.

Administrative Assistants; Dental Assistants, including Radiology and Infection Control; EKG technicians and Certified Insurance Billing and Coding Employees.

The adult students take classes during the day in five-hour blocks five days a week for four and a half months where they become familiar with technology using iPads and medical apps, SMART boards, desktop computers and eBook textbooks, and prepare to pass national certification exams in their field. They are required to participate in internships for 24 hours per week over two months in medical and dental offices, which give them vital on-the-job experience. ROP instructors visit the internship sites weekly and provide ongoing support to the students. "We can't guarantee that they will get jobs but having this experience certainly gives them a better chance of securing employment," says Berg. " Last year, approximately 50 to 60 percent of our students found employment upon completion of their ROP courses."

In order to compensate for the budget cuts, ROP has raised fees from $90 to $1,500 per course. "For the long term we need to become self-sustaining," says Berg. Even with this stiff increase, the number of students has increased. "We're finding that the students are serious and more committed," she adds. For some students, their tuition is subsidized by CalWORKS, the Department of Rehabilitation or EDD. The Dental Assistant program also offers a few scholarships. Berg is actively seeking grants to provide assistance to more students. "Word is spreading about our success and we're becoming a program to watch," adds Berg.

Full information on ROP courses, including course descriptions, registration information and syllabi are available on the ROP website.  Registration for spring classes is now being accepted.

It's the beginning of a new school year and a new look for Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) at its San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) location. Newly appointed Redwood City site manager Ofelia Delgadillo and her staff have revamped the site and made it easier for teachers to do their one-stop shopping for supplies for hands-on classroom activities.

RAFT provides creative ideas, affordable project materials, one-on-one mentoring

It's now easier to find supplies at the newly revamped RAFT site at SMCOE. .

and professional development.

At the newly reorganized SMCOE site, all the supplies are organized in clearly marked sections. Teachers can easily find folders, paper clips, stickers and more at greatly reduced prices.

One popular area is the Green Room, an educator prep area, where RAFT members have access to Ellison dies, computers, a button-making machine and laminators, and where they can get expert assistance. There's also a kit area, where teachers can find hands-on activity kits aligned to the Common Core that they can use in their classroom. "A hidden gem is our science supply area," says Michelle Berg, Communications Manager for RAFT. "Beakers, pipets, syringes and other science equipment are all available for classroom use."

RAFT also offers professional development for teachers, focused on the Common Core and hands-on learning. Affordable workshops ($25 to $30 per session) are held three times a year at RAFT on Saturdays, covering such topics as STEM, early learning and classroom management. In addition RAFT provides customized training for principals, superintendents and school districts, focusing on a particular need, such as fourth and fifth grade math. These are held at RAFT or at school sites. For both professional development offerings RAFT membership is not required.

On the RAFT website, teachers will find a treasure trove of free downloadable idea sheets, searchable by topic, grade level and Common Core standards. "We're proud to be celebrating our 20th anniversary," says Berg. "Our sole purpose is to serve educators. And we're here not just for teachers but also scout leaders and early learning staff."

This year for the first time RAFT is offering free annual memberships (normally $40) to all employees at the SMCOE facility at 101 Twin Dolphin Drive in Redwood City. RAFT is open 1:30-6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. on Thursdays and 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Saturdays. "All you need to do to activate your membership is come on in," says Delgadillo.