Issue: #62                                                      
October
 2015
In This Issue
Achievement Gap Summit
Education Town Hall
Patient No More Exhibit
CCESA Award
Design Thinking Seminar
David Brashear
We're on Facebook
Featured Article
SMCOE managers participate in brainstorming activities as part of the design thinking seminar.
Closing the Achievement Gap Focus of SMCOE Community Event


Shining a light on the achievement gap and examining some of the root causes was the focus of the county-wide Achievement Gap Summit held at the Oracle Conference Center in Redwood City on October 15, 2015. Co-sponsored by the San Mateo County Office of Education and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and hosted by Oracle, the event drew a crowd of more than 200 community leaders, policymakers, elected officials, superintendents, school leaders and school board members.

The day was jam packed with keynote addresses by Jill Habig, Special California Assistant Attorney General and Director of the Bureau of Children's Justice and Hedy Chang, Director of Attendance Works; remarks by San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools Anne Campbell and Deputy Superintendent Gary Waddell, elected leaders Congresswoman Jackie Speier, State Senator Jerry Hill, Assemblymen  
Keynote speaker Jill Habig spoke about the importance of regular school attendance.
Kevin Mullin, Phil Ting and Rich Gordon;  informative panels on the impact of poverty on achievement, leveraging technology to close the gap, and student perspectives on the achievement gap.

"Far too many of our youth are growing up in poverty and falling behind in school," said Campbell in her opening remarks.  "This is a battle we cannot fight on our own. We have to join forces and attack the root causes." In a video message Congresswoman Speier noted "Closing the achievement gap is essential to ensuring everyone can access America's promise."

Both Habig and Chang spoke about the importance of regular school attendance, and how attendance gaps lead to achievement gaps. Habig noted findings from the California Bureau of Children's Justice 
Peter Fortenbaugh (center) of the Boys & Girls Club speaks as part of the panel on issues of poverty.
 that 75 percent of students who are chronically absent are low-income and 80 percent of chronically absent kindergartners are not able to read by third grade and are four times as likely to be high school dropouts.

Panelist Peter Fortenbaugh, Director of the Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula, spoke about issues of poverty that affect student achievement--the high cost of housing that is causing uncertainty about where families can afford to live, parents working two or three jobs, and students taking on work after school to help support their families. Dr. Gloria M. Hernandez-Goff, Superintendent of the Ravenswood City School District, added "There's a lack of supervision at home when parents are working two or three jobs. These are deep societal issues that need to be addressed. Educators can't do it alone."

Panelist Ted Lempert, President of Children Now and San Mateo County Board of Education Trustee, noted that access to high-quality childcare is a "two-fer" as it provides care so parents can work and focus on early development that can set children up for academic success.
 
Blended learning--using online tools to adapt learning to student needs--could be one way to individualize instruction, engage students and address the achievement gap noted speakers on the Leveraging Technology panel, while agreeing that technology is merely a tool and not a panacea.

In the afternoon, a panel of students from Gateway Community School and Jefferson High School lent their views on the achievement gap. Several spoke about issues in and out of school-divorce, bad choices in friends, truancy--that had negatively impacted their academic achievement, and how close relationships with teachers had supported and pushed them to succeed. They noted that afterschool programs and tutoring also helped them get the support they needed. "It's important that teachers believe every student is good enough and encourage them to be what they can be," noted one student.

Assemblyman Gordon ended the day by saying "I want you to leave with this one simple thought--this achievement gap is unacceptable. We need to affirm that every child has potential and work hard to align our resources to those who need it most."

PowerPoint presentations from the keynote presentations and resources from the summit can be found on the SMCOE website here.

A follow-up summit in the spring will focus on community-oriented solutions to the achievement gap.

 

Education Town Hall Meeting Draws a Crowd
 

On October 13, 2015, more than 100 school board members, teachers, parents and community leaders gathered for a town hall meeting on education at Caņada College. Hosted by State Senator Jerry Hill, the event featured a Q & A with State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools Anne Campbell and Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools Jon Gundry.

Topics of discussion included: digital learning, the Common Core curriculum and the Smarter Balanced Assessments, the demise of CAHSEE (the high school exit exam),
San Mateo County Community College trustee Dave Mandelkern introduces panelists (l. to r.) State Senator Jerry Hill, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, San Mateo County Superintendent Anne Campbell and Santa Clara Superintendent Jon Gundry.
Next Generation Science Standards, STEM education, 







the impending teacher shortage, wellness programs in schools, and hurdles to achieving universal high-quality early learning for all students.

Torlakson said that this is an "exciting, transformative" time for education in California with the implementation of Common Core standards, which push students away from rote memorization and encourage higher order critical thinking skills; and the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), which targets more money for low-income students, English language learners and foster children. He noted that the graduation rate in California has gone up and now stands at 81 percent.

When asked "Why do we need the Smarter Balanced Assessments?" Superintendent Campbell explained that the computer-adaptive nature of the test and the results help teachers to better target instruction to the needs of individual students. Superintendent Gundry added that it is important to have the right set of tests because that is what ultimately drives instruction.

Torlakson explained that we no longer have the CAHSEE because it was not aligned to the new standards. He plans to bring together a working group of experts to determine what content would be appropriate to include in a new high school exit exam.

Both Campbell and Gundry highlighted the importance of early learning. Campbell spoke about San Mateo County's Big Lift initiative while Gundry described the work of the Strong Start Initiative. In addition, both mentioned the importance of not just PreK but learning for infants 0-3. "The first few years are critical in brain development," noted Gundry. "It's not just about educating kids but also educating their parents."

Despite the many challenges, all the speakers highlighted the positive things happening in public education in California. In closing, Gundry challenged the audience to go out and visit schools to see for themselves. His mantra, he said, is "Our schools are better than you think. The whole idea that there is a crisis in public education is a myth."

 

SMCOE "Patient No More" Exhibit Celebrates Disability Rights 


"Patient No More," an interactive exhibit commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, is on display until October 30, 2015 in the tree rooms at the San Mateo County Office of Education. The exhibit is free and open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
 
Presented by the Paul K. Longmore Institute of Disability and part of a larger exhibit housed at the Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline Street in Berkeley until December 18, 2015, the display celebrates in a series of photographs and large
Several panels in the exhibit explain and commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
panels the 26-day occupation in April 1977 of the Federal Building in San Francisco, when protesters demanded rights for people with disabilities. Known as the "Section 504 Sit-In," for the section of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the protest paved the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
 
"This exhibit came about as a result of our partnerships through Respect 24/7 and ties in with our Respect 24/7 "Patient No More" community event on October 19, 2015," notes Nancy Magee, Associate Superintendent, Student Services Division. "The recently released California Special Education Task Force report challenges education to be inclusive in a meaningful way. And this moment in history recognized the rights of students with disabilities to receive a fair and equal education. We've certainly come a long way since that time but it also reminds us of how much more work we need to do."
 
The exhibit also ties in well with the goals of  the Fair Education Act (Senate Bill 48), passed in 2011, that compels the inclusion of contributions of persons with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people into the curriculum. "The exhibit aligns with our goals of closing the achievement gap and providing meaningful special education services for students in San Mateo County," adds Magee.
 
Youth leaders and policy makers are invited to a special event on October 28, 2015 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. where they can explore the exhibit and attend a discussion hosted by Facing History and Ourselves. Registration is available on the SMCOE website here.
 
During regular exhibit hours, school and community groups are encouraged to visit but online registration is required for groups of 10 or more here. 
 

 
  

CCESA Award Honors Sue Wieser
 

For her acts of service, impact on the community and leadership on the Personnel Administrative Services Steering Committee (PASCO) of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCESA), Sue Wieser, Associate Superintendent for Human Resources at the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE), was honored with the STAR award at CCESA's quarterly meeting in Napa in early October.

"Sue
Sue Wieser accepts the STAR award from CCESA.
always has something to contribute and is definitely a giver," notes Eva Chavez, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources at the Merced County Office of Education. In presenting the award to Sue, Eva used the letters of her name to describe her: "S is for service above and beyond, U is for unassuming and E is for educator through and through.

Sue and Eva have worked together on the PASCO committee, where Sue has been the treasurer for the past three years. "She has helped us bring in professional development," notes Eva, "and she's got her ear to the ground and is aware of the hot topics." Sue was also on the state's special education task force, where she represented PASCO as well as the San Mateo County Office of Education.

"This award was completely unexpected," notes Sue. "I'm very grateful for the recognition. When I joined the PASCO committee, I was in awe of my colleagues. I was new to HR at the time and many of them had spent their careers in that domain. They were so knowledgeable and kindly shared materials with me. There was not one person who wasn't helpful. I gladly accept this award on their behalf as they have been great mentors."

The STAR award is given annually to one member of each of the subcommittees of CCESA and the selection of recipients is decided by the members of each subcommittee.
 


 
Design Thinking Seminar Challenges
SMCOE Managers to Think Differently


On October 13, 2015, San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) managers spent the day brainstorming, challenging their assumptions, considering diverse perspectives and taking action--all through a series of interactive design thinking exercises with the theme "Mindsets Matter," led by Lime Design.

Design thinking offers a way to reframe problems as opportunities with multiple viable solutions. The goal of this day of exercises was to help develop empathetic and creative problem solvers who are confident in their ability to act as change agents. 

Superintendent Anne Campbell remarked in welcoming the managers that this process will work hand in hand with the ongoing strategic plan in progress.
SMCOE managers participated in brainstorming activities at the design thinking seminar.
She added, "With all the changes we have seen since 2011 with the Common Core, Smarter Balanced Assessments, LCFF and LCAP, and changes to funding for County Offices of Education, we can't remain in our little niches anymore. We have to think about doing things differently and we can use these design thinking tools to chart our course forward."

Lime Design consultant Maureen Carroll commented, "Design thinking is not so much a mindset but a process. Just saying it is not enough. It's about skill building. It's about seeing if you can jump out of well-worn paths and do something different, and push the boundaries of how we approach problems."

One activity had participants donning a set of colored beads--gold for optimists, purple for devil's advocates, blue for viewers of the big picture, silver for data-crunchers, green for creative, and red for emotional types--and analyzing a problem through the lens of these personalities. By exchanging the beads and re-examining the problem, participants learned to consider diverse perspectives and have empathy for different views.

Another activity had ad hoc teams of managers competing to complete a set of 30 or so tasks, such as creating a video and uploading it to YouTube, teaching a line-dance to two other managers, and holding a yoga pose for one minute. The tasks had to be completed in 30 minutes with no direction as to the significance of the tasks, who should do them or why they were being asked to do them. The teams had to decide how to divide up the work and get it all done in the time allotted. The purpose, in the end, was to create a "bias toward action." Participants learned through their actions that sometimes it's more important to act rather than analyze endlessly.

At the end of the day, managers had time to reflect on what they learned and share their reactions with each other: "I enjoyed the opportunity to work with some people I don't ordinarily work with," "I was delighted by the creativity and fun activities," "I have new respect for my colleagues," were just some of the responses.
 



David Brashear Takes Helm of 
SMCOE Networks for Success


Davis Brashear, the new director of Networks for Success at the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE), plans to draw on his prior experience in promoting shared leadership, using data to drive instruction and setting up structures to support kids.

Formerly Director of District and School Improvement at the San Diego County Office of Education, Brashear left that post to become principal of Central School, a low-income, multilingual elementary school in the National School District in San Diego County to, as he says, "put into practice what I'd been preaching."

Before his arrival, the school had floundered, with low achievement and 
David Brashear was formerly Director of District and School Improvement at the San Diego County Office of Education.
minimal parent involvement. During his two-year tenure there, the school adopted Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS). "At first the staff members were skeptical," he notes, "but I explained to them the science behind it and why it works, and as we implemented it reminded them how things were getting better." With a lot of hard work, he and his staff were able to turn things around.

At SMCOE, he'll be working to redefine the role of Networks for Success, and challenging his team to reconsider their role and purpose. "It can't be about us doing the work. Schools have to build the capacity of their own staffs for the work to continue," he says. The focus will be on training coaches within their districts to improve instruction in reading and writing, and to institute PBIS.

In his spare time he's looking forward to exploring the Bay Area from his new home overlooking the waterfront in Alameda. A lover of the outdoors, and an avid hiker and biker, he's considering taking up kitesurfing and windsurfing. He considers himself "a bit of a foodie," so he also plans to check out the burgeoning food scene in Oakland, too.
Check Us Out on Facebook

   
The San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) now has a page on Facebook. We'll be providing frequent updfacebook logoates on SMCOE events and education news of interest, adding groups of interest, and linking to other education organizations. Check us out and "like" us today on Facebook!  
  
Like us on Facebook 
About the San Mateo County Office of Education
  
The San Mateo County Office of Education provides a variety of instructional, business and consulting services to the County's 23 public school districts, charter schools, the Community College District and County Office of Education staff. 
  
Believe in Tomorrow: Think Green Today