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Education
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- Written by: Editor
UKIAH, Calif. – “Teachers on Teaching: From Reflection to Action; Incorporating Research into Classroom Practice,” a one-day conference for local and regional educators, will be presented at the Mendocino College campus in Ukiah on Saturday, March 26.
Beginning Saturday morning with check-in at 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m., the low-cost mini-conference is designed to explore a variety of topics of interest to teachers across disciplines from pre-Kindergarten through college.
“The Foundation Skills Teaching and Learning Community of Mendocino College is hosting this important event to bring educators together to share ideas, build collaboration, and learn about current practices and projects in our local community,” said conference coordinator and Mendocino College English Professor Debra Polak.
“If you are a current or prospective teacher or school counselor, this conference is for you,” Polak explained. “The conference will include seven hours of instruction and may fit the criteria for professional development ‘buy back’ days for some teachers. K-12 participants should check with their district office about potential credit. It will also qualify as a college flex activity, and we can provide proof of your attendance.”
Building on two previous annual conferences presented for local teachers at the community college in Ukiah, topics for this year’s sessions include collaborative research efforts, asking good questions of data, tensions between mandated and meaningful research, American Indian research perspectives, language learning, impacts of substance abuse on learners of all ages and classroom management.
A morning panel will explore education topics with a range of local educators representing preschool through postsecondary perspectives.
Break-out sessions will also emphasize collaborative communication among local college and kindergarten through high school educators and strengthening partnerships in the community.
“The conference is organized for a Saturday so busy local educators will have the opportunity to participate,” said conference co-chair Virginia Guleff, Dean of Instruction for the college in Ukiah.
“Based on last year’s successful format, we’re offering this year’s activities in a central location and at a low cost to help support local educators and their schools in difficult budget times. Cost for the conference is just $15 and includes a fabulous lunch,” Guleff explained.
The conference is supported by Mendocino College and Bridging Research, Information and Cultures (BRIC), a group initiative funded by the Hewlett Foundation. Pre-registration is required.
To register, or for more information, please contact the Mendocino College Foundation Skills Weblink
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- Written by: Editor
SACRAMENTO – On Monday California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott and members of the board of governors welcomed Gov. Jerry Brown to the board's March meeting.
Gov. Brown discussed his reasons for wanting Californians to have the chance to vote on his proposal to extend taxes so community colleges, as one budgetary example, do not have to face cuts of as much as $800 million or more.
“The community colleges are important to our culture, our society and our democracy. It’s about skill achievement. If you’re more capable, you’re a more productive member of society. Why not pay for that? I’m not asking my Republican colleagues to tax anything,” said Gov. Brown. “I’m asking them to let the people of California decide. Do they wish to extend the existing taxes or do they wish to double the cuts that I’ve already proposed? That’s a simple proposition.”
The California Community Colleges is reeling from years of budget cuts, officials reported. The demand for a college education in California is continuing to outstrip resources.
Gov. Brown has pushed for a June vote to allow the state’s citizens to either approve a five-year extension in taxes or to double the cuts already proposed to close the state’s $27 billion budget deficit.
If the tax extensions are approved, the California Community Colleges still face a $400 million cut which translates to roughly 350,000 students being turned away from the system in the 2011-12 academic year.
“The California Community Colleges is willing to do its part to help balance the state budget,” said Scott. “But the $800 million or more reduction that’s been discussed as part of an all cuts budget would result in immediate and damaging consequences for students. It would be ‘tragic’ if a tax extension does not get on the ballot because reductions of this magnitude would mean more and more Californians will be denied higher education.”
Brown stressed that the vote isn’t just about taxes but also cuts. He cautioned that the question before the people should be, “do we extend the taxes or go with an all-cuts budget? This proposal has such a profound impact that I don’t think the Legislature in and of itself should make that decision. To let the people vote on this was not just a campaign promise but a commitment to reinvigorate the people and let them offer their judgment.”
He added, “I’m hopeful at the end of the day that we will have this great debate and great election for this June and that Californians will vote to invest in the California Community Colleges and the other aspects of the state budget.”
Gov. Brown opened his time before the board by asking Chancellor Jack Scott about student transfer reform. Scott replied that the Student Transfer Implementation and Oversight Committee continues to meet and the transfer paths between the California Community Colleges and the California State University are in place and growing in number.
Brown then asked about a reformed transfer path for community colleges and the University of California. When told there wasn’t one, Gov. Brown pledged that he would get the University of California Board of Regents moving on forming a partnership similar to the one that will roll out in the fall 2011 between the California Community Colleges and the California State University.
“I’ll get the UCs on board,” Gov. Brown said. “Let’s do it.”
For more information about the California Community Colleges and California State University Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act that was signed into law in October 2010, please visit the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Web site at www.cccco.edu/ChancellorsOffice/Divisions/StudentServices/TransferArticulationHome/SB1440StudentTransfer/tabid/1809/Default.aspx .
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation. It is composed of 72 districts and 112 colleges serving 2.76 million students in 2009-10. Community colleges provide workforce training, teach basic skills math and English courses, and prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities.
The Chancellor’s Office provides leadership, advocacy and support under the direction of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors.
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- Written by: Editor
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Child Care Planning Council, along with many other Lake County agencies, organizations and individuals, are uniting once again to honor Early Childhood Educators through the third-annual ECE Award program.
Each year, the event grows, as award-winners and nominees are honored by local dignitaries and leaders in the field.
This year’s event will be held at The Lodge at Blue Lakes to accommodate an even larger number of attendees.
Nomination forms are being distributed widely throughout the county at Lake County Office of Education, WIC and other public offices, and an online submission form is available to make nominating a professional as convenient as possible.
Nomination forms are beginning to pour in, and winners will be selected based on a detailed interview and evaluation process that reviews their education, commitment to their profession, and effectiveness in their role as educators.
To nominate an educator, please visit www.lakecountychildcareplanning.com.
Nominations must be received by April 5.
“Early Childhood Educators contribute significantly to our communities. Quality early childhood education dramatically impacts high school graduation rates, keeps our communities working, and helps our communities develop productive, effective citizens of the future,” said Shelly Mascari, of the Lake County Child Care Planning Council.
“Many of these educators have dedicated decades to their profession; their education in many cases equals that of the K-12 educator; and yet we were lacking a forum to recognize excellence in their field,” Mascari continued. “The goal of this program is to do just that.”
The winners will receive an award package that includes scholarships to our local community colleges, gift certificates for classroom materials, press recognition, award plaques and more.
Awards will be presented in the following categories:
Provider of the year (family child care);
Provider of the year (infant/toddler-center based);
Provider of the year (preschool-center based);
Provider of the year (after school-center based);
Outstanding special needs inclusion;
Leading the field.
To find out how to be involved in this program or support this important work financially, contact the Lake County Child Care Planning Council, 707-994-4795, www.lakecountychildcareplanning.com.
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- Written by: Karalena Cole
Busy, busy, busy! That's the catch phrase for Carlé High School students.
Ending Hazmat, Angie Siegel was able to certify 11 students into First Operation Responders (FROS).
Congratulations to the new and very well-trained responders: Vince Adams, Frank Boyce, Matthew Brown, Karalena Cole, Stevie Cook, Monica Jackson, Jeff Martin, Arturo Negrete, Raylon Ray, Richard Skinner and Jorge Viera.
At Carlé High School students often benefit from the positive choices they make, and enjoy ensuring the well being of our home, our county.
One fantastic example of this was Lower Lake Community Action Group's annual cioppino feed that took place at the Russell Ristici park on Feb. 18.
The students who had signed up to help arrived and kept their word even though school had been canceled that same day.
We would like to thank everyone and in particular, three students – Arturo Negrete, Karalena Cole and Stevie Cook – who had stayed to the bitter end even after the Glasgow Grade was shut down. This kind of personal responsibility and accountability is one of the hallmarks of our school.
Another recent community service that Carlé students worked hard at was the annual Rotary fundraiser Seafood Boil on Feb. 25. This is the yearly dumping of buckets of seafood on tables and we helped with the successful auction as well.
“I was impressed, especially with this year's crew working the boil who all took initiative and were always one step ahead. They are all very unique and special students who did a spectacular job helping with the event,” said Carlé Principal Ed Zander.
Student Holly Brumback was awarded student of the week during week of Feb. 14.
“Holly is very focused on working hard to graduate this year even though she isn't supposed to graduate until next year,” said teacher Verna Rogers.
Student Desiree Bauer also was honored with student of the week during the week of Feb. 21.
“Desiree works incredibly hard in biology class and always gets all of her assignments in while doing very well in class,” said Angie Siegel.
Last week's student of the week was Tucker Barnett.
“Tucker is very focused in all of her classes and has shown great improvement this year,” said Angie Siegel.
In other news the flag contest came to an end of Friday, Feb. 5. Fifteen students creatively designed and will be awarded their very own personalized Carlé High School flag.
They will be hung proudly around the quad for about a month and then given to the student winners.
Next week we will talk about the Odyssey of the Mind competition and the Soroptimist luncheon both which took place on March 5.
In addition we will talk about “nerd” day which had students coming to school in costume and a number of advisory competitions which all took place as this article went to press on March 4.
Karalena Cole is a student at Carlé Continuation High School in Lower Lake, Calif.