Issue: #67

March
2016

In This Issue

Teacher Recruitment Fair

Bay Area Science Fair

Featured Article

San Mateo County students score at Bay Area Science Fair.

SMCOE Plans Teacher Recruitment Fair

"Teach in San Mateo County! San Mateo County is a great place to live and work as a teacher." That's the main message that will be conveyed to prospective teachers at the second annual San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) Teacher Recruitment Fair slated for April 2, 2016 at the County Office of Education from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Building on the success of last year's event, which attracted more than 300 prospective teachers, this year's fair will be widely publicized in EdJoin, the San Mateo Daily Journal,

as well as through districts, local universities, the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE), the Santa Clara Office of Education and SMCOE. On hand will be representatives from 21 of the 23 school districts in San Mateo County and credential analysts to answer questions. With additional publicity this year and hosting the fair on a Saturday, the hope is to significantly increase the number of attendees.

New features of this year's event include workshops on such topics as how to get a substitute permit, how to get a teaching credential, induction, and tips on getting a job; housing information; student loan information; and opportunities for face-to-face meetings with human resource representatives, principals, and current teachers. And upon entering the fair each participant will receive a brochure which describes each of the school districts.

"We're focusing on recruiting and hiring a pool of diverse, qualified teachers," says Sue Wieser, Associate Superintendent, Human Resources at SMCOE. "The Teacher Recruitment Fair is one part of our effort to recruit teachers. We also bring together district administrators each month to share their best practices on teacher recruitment."

"We are encouraging districts to bring principals and current teachers to speak with prospective teachers and highlight their new initiatives, innovative programs, and school programs," adds Wieser. "Meeting face to face allows prospective hires to get to know a district through the eyes of those who work there. It can make an impression that is lost when learning about a district online."

Prospective teachers can register in advance for the fair here.

SM County Students Score at Bay Area Science Fair

San Mateo County students scored exceptionally well at the San Francisco Bay Area Science Fair, held March 14 to 17, 2016, at the San Francisco County Fair Building.

Patrick Kao, grade 10 at Menlo-Atherton High School and Andrew Land, grade 8, in the San Carlos School District, were grand prize winners.

In addition

San Mateo county students earned 11 first-place awards, six second-place, five third-place, seven fourth-place and four received special awards. Winners ranged from grade 7 to 10, with a mix representing public and private schools in the county.

These students all competed initially in the San Mateo County STEM Fair and received a first place or second place medal at the awards ceremony there on March 8, 2016.

Congratulations to all the students!

SMCSBA Addresses Human Trafficking

"Shame on us and our community," was the initial response of school board members at the March dinner meeting of the San Mateo County School Boards Association (SMCSBA) when they heard the alarming statistics and true accounts of human trafficking and youth in San Mateo County and across the United States.

There are estimates of 100,000 to 300,000 youth involved in human trafficking in the U.S. this year, said Jene� Littrell, Director, Safe and Supportive Schools at the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE), and a nationally renowned expert on youth human trafficking. Littrell presented at the SMCSBA event along with Mike Brosnan, Program Coordinator, Human Trafficking, at the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. "The biggest problem, " added Littrell, "is that we don't really know how many youth are involved because so many cases go unreported."

In 2008


Mike Brosnan, Program Coordinator, Human Trafficking at the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, and Jene� Littrell, Director of Safe and Supportive Schools at SMCOE, spoke at the SMCSBA even on human trafficking. .

when Littrell was working in the San Diego School District, she and staff began to notice some "unique unexplained behaviors" among students. Under her guidance the district put in place a protocol to heighten awareness of human trafficking. In the first month, they identified 10 student victims and in the first two years they identified 250. Since that time, Littrell has worked with the U.S. Department of Education to publish "Human Trafficking in America's Schools," a guide for helping educators understand how students may be recruited and impacted. The guide provides information on what human trafficking is, what it looks like and how to keep kids safe.

The focus of the SMCSBA session was on what schools need to do to recognize and respond to human trafficking on or near their campuses. SMCSBA president Carrie Dubois brought this subject to the attention of the SMCSBA executive board. "I've always been concerned about our most vulnerable kids and raising awareness about their needs," said Dubois.

"Teachers are on the front lines," added Littrell. "They need to be the eyes and ears and be alert for changes in student behavior. Often Child Protective Services, probation and police are aware of certain vulnerable youth but these agencies aren't talking to each other. But in schools we see kids every day "

Littrell noted that students who are victims of child abuse, are runaways or homeless, come from low-income families, minorities, LGBT and/or on IEPs are often disproportionately targets for human trafficking. "We need to make our campuses safe for all our students," she noted.

Signs that teachers and staff need to watch for include: unexplained school absences, abrupt changes in attire and/or behavior, presence of an older boyfriend or girlfriend, strange tattoos or branding marks, and poor health.

On the law enforcement side, Brosnan noted that his department is working on four key areas: enforcement, awareness, training and development of policies and procedures.

"It is great to have school board members wanting to learn about this issue," said Littrell. "You are leaders and you can go out and spread the word to other school leaders and work with law enforcement."

All are encouraged to attend a community event, Human Trafficking Awareness Day, on May 14. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the San Mateo County History Museum and Courthouse Square in Redwood City. For details visit www.beforeourveryeyes.org.

SMCOE Court and Community Schools Seek WASC Accreditation

The long and intense WASC accreditation process for the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) court and community schools began three years ago and will soon be drawing to a close. After two years of undergoing a thorough self-study, staff at the schools submitted a lengthy report describing student achievement, staff professional development and school climate to the WASC committee in January.

In mid-February, a WASC committee of administrators and teachers from across the state


Gateway Community School students designed an early literacy center adjacent to their school.

came to San Mateo County to visit all five court and community school programs over a three-day period. They interviewed students, parents, teachers and administrators in an effort to validate the strengths and challenges outlined in the written report submitted to WASC.

"In their initial findings, the committee was very complimentary," notes Nancy Magee, Associate Superintendent at SMCOE. "They called out the strong academic program and praised the teachers for their level of commitment."

Up until now about 60 percent of court and community school programs in California have not been WASC accredited but it has become a growing trend for these programs to seek accreditation. Once these programs receive accreditation, student course work can be applied toward applications at four-year colleges and universities. Without accreditation students in these programs can only apply to community colleges or four-year colleges that do not require accreditation. Accreditation also makes it easier to align students' credits when transitioning back to their high schools in their home districts.

"The WASC process has been extremely valuable," adds Magee. "It involved the whole community and helped to solidify our focus and determine high priority goals." These goals include: strengthening the instructional program for English Learners, better aligning the math curriculum with Common Core standards, providing a more cohesive social-emotional component across the program, and developing a personalized learning model.

"I'm grateful to Dr. Joan Rosas for her vision in getting the WASC process started in 2012, and I'm really proud of the staff for all their hard work," notes Magee. The County Office expects to receive the official accreditation letter from WASC in June.

Parents and Teens Learn from Panel on Mental Health and Wellness

Reducing the stigma around mental illness, learning about strategies to promote a balanced lifestyle and accessing resources were just some of the topics addressed at an evening for San Mateo County parents and teens on February 29, 2016. With the theme "Navigating the Tides of Adolescence," the event at Hillsdale High School, co-sponsored by the San Mateo County Office of Education, the San Mateo Union High School District, StarVista, the County of San Mateo Health System, and the Stanford University School of Medicine, drew a crowd of more than 500 parents, students and community members.

Speakers included Dr. Steven Adelsheim, Stanford child psychologist;Kathleen Blanchard, a Gunn High School parent whose teenage son committed suicide; Julie Lythcott-Haims, author of How to Raise an Adult and former freshman dean at Stanford University; and Sammy Kotmel, a student at Mercy High School who has successfully dealt with mental health issues.


	Student Sammy Kotmel, Dr. Steven Adelsheim, Kathleen Blanchard and Julie Lythcott-Halms led a panel discussion at "Navigating the Tides of Adolescence..

KQED correspondent Rachael Myrow moderated the panel.

County Superintendent Anne Campbell welcomed the crowd and noted how complex the challenges are that affect our youth today. She gave a shout-out to San Mateo County, where with the help of Measure A funds, professionals from many different sectors are working together to address mental health issues.

Kathleen Blanchard and Sammy Kotmel told touching personal stories of their journeys with mental health issues. Blanchard was unaware that her own son--a popular, amiable and smart student--was struggling. She urged parents to be patient, to spend more time listening to their kids and to be aware of signs, such as changes in behavior or sleep patterns, that might indicate their child is quietly struggling with a mental health issue.

"Sometimes when our kids are deeply in trouble, they don't know how to ask for help; they're dependent on us to notice," she said.

Kotmel spoke about how her parents advocated for her and got her help early on to address her diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder. By getting treatment, she has been able to manage her condition and live a balanced life.

Dr. Adelsheim and Julie Lythcott-Haims, both parents of teens at Gunn High School, spoke from a personal as well as a professional level. Adelsheim talked about engaging with his daughters in such mundane activities as following the Kardashians, to give them common ground to open a dialogue. Lythcott-Haims urged parents to connect with their teen's friends, who often know more about what is going on with their child than parents. She urged teens to come forward and tell a trusted adult when they see a friend having trouble coping. "It's better to lose a friendship than lose a friend," she noted.

The evening ended with remarks from Tammy Esrallian, a counselor at Burlingame High School, and Stephanie Weisner, Director of Wellness and Recovery Services at StarVista. Both urged parents and teens to seek out resources in our community. Esrallian said school counselors often help with personal as well as academic concerns, and can aid parents and teens in seeking outside resources. Weisner commented on the variety of resources available through StarVista, including 24-hour telephone and online support through the parent support line, crisis hotline and Teen Web site, www.OnYourMind.net, where teens can log in anonymously and chat with trained peer counselors.

SMCOE Hosts Immigrant Forum

Sharing resources to better serve immigrant students was the focus of the San Mateo County Immigrant Forum meeting held at the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) on March 17, 2016. Nearly 30 representatives from school districts, community agencies, legal and health services gathered to explain the services they provide, pose questions and concerns, and get answers to benefit their clients.

Marco Chavez,


	Red Cross representative Deborah Torres and Marco Chavez, SMCOE Administrator, Board/Superintendent Support and Community Relations, moderated the Immigrant Forum.

Administrator, Board/Superintendent Support and Community Relations at SMCOE, moderated the morning session and welcomed the group by telling a personal story. As the young son of illegal immigrants, he told of his father being reported to authorities three times in one year and how that experience made it difficult for him to concentrate in school in his elementary years. In high school, he began thinking about college but had no green card and worried about what opportunities would be available to him. In 1984 he received his green card and continued on his path in education to where he is today.

"I tell this story to highlight the stress and challenges that our immigrant students and their families go through," he said "and to encourage the good work these organizations do to ease some of the stress."

Deborah Torres, representing the American Red Cross, explained that the Immigrant Forum began in 2014 in response to the influx of unaccompanied immigrant minors. "It became clear over time that this was a countywide issue and services had been siloed," she said." The forum is a way to bring community partners together."

This was the first time the meeting had been held outside of the Red Cross offices in Burlingame, and Chavez invited the group to SMCOE to encourage school districts from across the county to participate.

Participants introduced themselves and gave a brief "commercial" about their agency. They also wrote down questions and concerns on large post-its, and those who could answered those questions, which ranged from issues about accessing legal services, housing, receiving academic credits and continuing in school past the age of 18, and transportation services to medical and legal appointments.

The Immigrant Forum meets during the school year on the third Thursday of the month. San Mateo County is also planning an Immigrant Summit next fall to focus on these issues.

SMCOE Early Learning Support Services Delivers on Grants for QRIS Work

With the help of grants at the state, federal and local level, the Early Learning Support Services (ELSS) team at the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) has been steadily supporting improvement in the quality of early learning centers in San Mateo County.

At the heart of this work is implementation of a common Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) for early learning centers and family child care homes throughout San Mateo County. As part of a national movement to improve early learning center quality, California received a federal Race to the Top (RTT) Early Learning Challenge grant to pilot a California QRIS in 17 county QRIS consortia.

In 2014, San

Mateo County First 5 received a $500,000 state grant over two years to join this work. First 5 San Mateo, SMCOE, and many other partners formed the San Mateo County QRIS Consortium to guide the development and implementation of a local QRIS, using the California framework. SMCOE was asked to be the chief implementer of the system, along with First 5 San Mateo, and the Child Care Coordinating Council.

The San Mateo QRIS Consortium promised to rate 60 early learning sites--on a five-tiered scale with five being the highest--by the conclusion of the RTT grant in 2016 and has already exceeded that target with 72 programs rated.

The QRIS Consortium targets sites that serve children from low-income families living in the eleven Big Lift communities. New QRIS Block Grants from the California Department of Education and a five-year QRIS grant from First 5 California ensure that the Consortium can continue to systematically support improvement and assess the original sites, plus bring on new sites, over the next three to five years.

The QRIS rates programs based on three core areas: child development and school readiness; teachers and teaching; and program environment and leadership. But QRIS is more than a simple rating. Each program conducts a self-study and submits documentation. Then ELSS staff conducts a rating validation visit and at least one-third of each site's classrooms are assessed on the quality of teacher-child interaction and the classroom environment using the nationally recognized Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) and the Environment Rating Scales (ERS) tools.

ELSS staff meets with the program director to give the final rating and provide a coach who helps the site director reflect on the findings, and develop broad goals and a six-month action plan for program improvement. Tailored to its plan, the program may receive an improvement grant, coaching services, or specific training. When action goals are achieved, programs set new action plans. Participating sites will be re-rated every two years.

"The focus is on continuous, ongoing quality improvement and support," notes Nirmala Dillman, Coordinator, San Mateo County Quality Rating & Improvement System at SMCOE. Next year the Consortium plans a community celebration to honor participating QRIS sites and inform families and communities about why early learning quality matters.

San Mateo County's Consortium is part of both the Bay Area Regional and the California QRIS Consortia. "In this way, we are able to, learn from other counties, plan regional efficiencies and advocate for a strong effective statewide QRIS," adds Dillman.

Check Us Out on Facebook

The San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) now has a page on Facebook. We'll be providing frequent upd facebook logo

ates 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!

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.

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