By Ray Faulkenberry

I grew up and went to school right here in the East Bay. Understand that although I was an excellent student grade-wise, I honestly feel that I got very, very little from our public school system from sixth grade on. I cannot tell you all of the reasons why – they were many. Overcrowded classrooms, lecture-based teaching, teacher burn-out, being a product/student of the 1960’s and 70’s…lots of things.

Having been an educator in some way, shape or form for the last thirty years has given me a wide view of how education is administered in this, our modern society. Having survived our public education system, I recently witnessed something that I didn’t think I would ever see in a public school – a mind blowing process that incorporates multiple styles of teaching and learning that is not even present in most expensive private schools.

As a school teacher for the last twenty years I have nothing but the ultimate respect for anyone who goes to work in education and puts their heart and soul into their job. The task of educating our young people in a time where our economy is down, most all parents – both sets work full time is by no means an easy job. Parents and educators are greatly challenged in trying to provide the best academic as well as emotional education possible to their kids and students. Massive cuts in the budget have done nothing to enhance this process.

This is why I am so impressed with the RAAMP Charter Academy, which sits at the back of Black Diamond Middle School. RAAMP stands for Raising Academic Achievement Multicultural Program. Originally designed for working with African-American males, RAAMP is now co-ed and open to anyone of any race.

I got a chance to visit the school and sat in every class from anywhere between five and fifty minutes. I witnessed the best math lesson I’ve ever seen by third grade teacher, Mr. Connor. Aside from being an incredible teacher and classroom organizer, Mr. Connor has an incredibly cool accent from Scotland, England, or Ireland.

I left Mr. Connors class and went from one class/grade (each classroom is a grade and a couple of classes are actually combined in 2 grades!) to another and saw more examples of excellent teachers doing an amazing job of not only relaying information, but as importantly if not more so, providing solid emotional education as well.

I place an incredibly high value on not only being able to read, write, and think with our minds, but to also be wise emotionally in being able to communicate, be polite, respectful, and compassionate. Both emotional and academic intelligence was equally on display by the teachers and students I visited.

My own kids struggled in the Antioch public school system before we got them enrolled in another of Antioch’s amazing Charter Schools – Antioch Charter Academy (ACA). At ACA my children flourished and have since graduated and moved onto to a third amazing school here in Antioch – Dozier Libbey Medical High school. However, what makes RAAMP so amazing is that in many cases they have taken kids who have struggled in school and at home and provided an environment for learning the likes of which I have never witnessed.

Founder and Executive Director Karla Branch is not only a tireless warrior when it comes to advocating what is best for her kids, she still gets in the classroom every day and works with her sixth and seventh graders and teaches them math. I know many principals and administrators were once teachers – many of them excellent at teaching. I don’t know of any of them who take on the role of a full-time administrator who also gets in the classroom day in and day out.

RAAMP is not a school that is only for kids who have struggled or kids of color. RAAMP is a school that provides education that is relevant, valuable, and taught from the heart. Speaking from my own experience, the best educational transfer comes from teachers who have shown respect, sensitivity, and love for their students. They speak, teach, and interact from that desire to guide, instruct, and love their students.

Some may point to the low API score that RAAMP has received. Students have come from public education and their initial scores reflect that. Once they come to RAAMP, their scores shoot straight up. In the school office they have a display, which indicates each grade’s math scores. It listed their entry level abilities and how many were behind, caught up and meeting the basics. Right next to it is an assessment seven weeks into the semester and every grade shows a huge improvement – in just a few short weeks!

Many of RAAMP’s kids come from a struggling background. Many have struggled in other schools and many come from single-parent homes. However, these kids, teachers and administrators are committed to providing and receiving the best education possible. I was honored and blown away by my visit to RAAMP. My heart goes out to the staff and students at the school.

I left a form with the administrator – a form that suggests a fund-raising project that I am interested in. It’s a project for me and Antioch as a whole, but, after hearing and seeing RAAMP, I would love to help them financially because, frankly, they deserve it.

Yes, indeed there is something magical happening here in Antioch. After witnessing the education and compassion in which it is delivered, I feel significantly more comfortable that the kids from RAAMP will do their part to help the world become a better place. To learn more about RAAMP you can go to www.RAAMP.com

Ray Faulkenberry, PhD is a business analyst, consultant, coach, author, and entrepreneur. Log onto his website and receive his books on success, leadership, and transformation for free. He can be reached at www.rayfaulkenberry.com or rayfaulkenberry@comcast.net.

More than $2,000 raised

By Walter Ruehlig

A community’s educational positioning is like a three legged stool; it balances by taking the support of students, teachers and parents/community. More so than ever, we can’t do it alone.

Before even contemplating the academic No Child Left Behind challenge let’s start with the financial dilemma facing the Antioch Unified School District and its AUSD has suffered a staggering $74 million in state cuts over the last four years, with no end in sight to the crippling attack.

It’s a heady challenge; needing to train a globally competitive workforce while in the societal throes of an endemic breakdown of the family and simultaneously adapting to the radical transition of youth’s attention to a wired world; all the while addressing tumultuous change with far scanter resources.

The recent arson and vandalism incidents that shut down the Diablo Vista Elementary School kitchen and decimated the playground at Lone Tree Elementary were low blows, then, to an already tottering budget and besieged morale. As if money was free and easy, the tab for some thug’s mindlessness is now running upwards of two hundred thousand dollars.

Monday evening January 8th Take Back Antioch, led by Brittney Gougeon and the Lone Tree Elementary PTA, led by Patty Ward, said no to victimhood mentality. They demonstrated a fighting, proactive community spirit by holding a spaghetti dinner and raffle at the Red Caboose Restaurant to raise funds for the damaged schools,
particularly for enhanced security measures.

Lone Tree Principal Melanie Jones, Diablo Vista Principal Wanda Appell and School Board Trustee Walter Ruehlig addressed a packed crowd that included Mayor Jim Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Wade Harper, Councilman Gary Agopian and School Board President Diane Gibson Gray.

Good company, good food, good cause.

The Deer Valley High School Band & Auxiliary Boosters will host an all-you-can-eat Crab Feed & Tri-Tip Dinner on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012 at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds, Sunset Hall, 1201 W. 10th St., Antioch.

Tickets are $45 per person and includes Marinated Crab, Tri Tip, Salad, Pasta, Garlic Bread and Dessert. Full bar available. Raffles, auctions and Live Jazz. Doors open at 6PM with dinner at 7PM. All proceeds will benefit DVHS band programs.

For tickets and information, call Eric Wunderly at 925-755-2724. No tickets sold at the door.

Dallas Ranch PTSA will be having our 3rd annual Crab Feed and Raffle on Saturday, March 3rd from 6-10 p.m. and the new Community Center. Tickets are $40 for adults and $20 for kids 14 and under.

This includes all the crab you can eat, pasta, salad, bread, dessert, and a non-alcoholic beverage. We will have a beer and wine bar as well. Funds raised from this event will be used to purchase much-needed school supplies at Dallas Ranch. The school has had $20,000 slashed from its budget this year, and the DRMS PTSA aims to replenish those monies.

To purchase tickets email mfuriosi@comcast.net.

The El Campanil Theatre in Antioch hosted a very special graduation ceremony on Dec. 22 for thirteen talented and grateful Contra Costa County residents.

Known as Opportunity Junction’s “Class 36”, this group of graduates definitely has something to celebrate this Holiday Season having just completed an intensive three months of full-time job placement and training.

Receiving their diplomas, each spoke of the commitment it took, not only by themselves but by their spouses, children, parents and friends – many of whom were in the audience – to get through the intensive program. They also recognized in their personal and emotional speeches that this was a life-changing opportunity which they were thankful to have been selected to participate in.

Founded in 1999, Opportunity Junction is a non-profit organization in Antioch which provides education and career training for qualified Contra Costa residents. Its mission is to fight poverty by helping low-income adults gain the skills and confidence to support themselves and their families.

Supported by community partnerships, grants, in-kind donations, pro bono services and donations from the public, Opportunity Junction’s successful Job Training and Placement program is able to combine technology training, personal development and real world experience to adults. Alumni are followed for at least 18 months and continue to be offered services including career counselling and mentoring indefinitely.

According to Alissa Friedman, Executive Director at Opportunity Junction, “There is a tremendous need for workers today to have strong technology and workplace skills. Without education, experience and stability many residents in Contra Costa County struggle to secure a job which can meet their basic needs.

She added, “Last night’s graduation ceremony means these thirteen wonderful people are now ready to get on the road to economic self-sufficiency with enhanced skills and more self confidence.”

What’s next for these special graduates? In the New Year they return to Opportunity Junction to commence up to four months of paid internships using the skills introduced during training. That is if they don’t find a full-time job first.

Ms. Friedman reminds potential employers that unlike staffing firms, Opportunity Junction’s Temp-to-Hire program has no conversion fees. Contact her to find out if your organization or agency qualifies for available tax credits through this program.

If you missed the graduation ceremony last night in Antioch, don’t worry because it will be available for viewing on CCTV (Comcast channel 27, Astound channel 32 and AT&T U-verse channel 99) Monday, January 9 at 8:00 pm, Wednesday, January 11 at 2 pm, Wednesday, January 18 at 2 pm.

For information about Opportunity Junction’s programs and services, visit http://www.opportunityjunction.org or contact Alissa Friedman, Executive Director, at 925-776-1133, alissa@opportunityjunction.org.

Please join Take Back Antioch on January 9th for a Spaghetti Feed and Benefit Auction to raise money for Lone Tree Elementary and Diablo Vista Elementary Schools.

Both these schools were recently affected by arson and vandalism. Proceeds from the fundraiser will be designated for ‘Safety and Security’ needs at both schools. All funds raised will be split 50/50 between the participating schools.

The feed will be held on January 9th from 5 PM to 8:30 PM at The Red Caboose Restaurant located at 210 Fulton Road in Antioch. Diablo Vista seating from 5-7; Lone Tree seating from 6:30-8:30. Tickets are $7 ($3/child 12 and under) and can be purchased at the door or in advance by emailing info@takebackantioch.com.

TBA is accepting donations from local business for the Benefit Auction. To donate a product or service to the auction please contact Veli Waller at tbaspaghettifeed@gmail.com. In exchange, participating businesses will be thanked at the event.

Proudly accepting a plaque of recognition as a California Distinguished School is Dozier-Libbey Medical High School Principal Nancie Castro. In attendance on December 8th at the Dozier-Libbey gym were (L-R) Antioch Board Trustees Gary Hack, Claire Smith, Diane Gibson-Gray, Joy Motts, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, Antioch Superintendent Dr. Donald Gill and Trusttee Walter Ruehlig. (Photo courtesy of ABC School Portraits)

The California Department of Education gives the Distinguished School award every year to schools that demonstrate academic success through high test scores among all of their students, regardless of background.

Closing the achievement gap was a particular focus of this year’s award, which is now celebrating its own silver anniversary.

California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson was on hand at the packed ceremony to present the award to the medical career focused high school.

Torlakson said that Dozier-Libbey won the award because of its high Academic Performance Index, (API), scores and its career themed, “real-world” focused education which he said is the future of education in the State.

“Here at Dozier-Libbey … every student is valued, every student challenged,” said Torlakson. “This philosophy of having every student helped and creating and understanding relevance every day … is a big reason [for the award].”

The high school, which specializes in a rigorous curriculum that exceeds California public school requirements with a focus on math, science and careers in the medical field, has improved its API scores every year since it opened its doors in 2008.

This year student’s average API scores were in the mid 800s, placing them among the top high schools in the county.

Dozier-Libbey Principal Nancie Castro believes her school is one of the best around. And, like Torlakson, she sees Dozier-Libbey’s “real-world,” student-centric learning model as something that could revive the state’s ailing public education system.

“I believe in my heart that this is a model that works for all kids,” said Castro. “Getting experience for students outside the classroom, really bringing relevance to what they’re learning – it means they’ll blossom. And [the award] is validation that what we’re doing here really works.”

As if to prove Castro’s point further, Dozier-Libbey also received a California Linked Learning Certification at the ceremony for its use of up to date, career-focused education to help improve student engagement, achievement and eventual transition to college as well as an additional award for Exemplary Career Technical Education Program.

Dozier-Libbey’s small size – it will hold a maximum of 600 students by the time the school is at capacity – allowed all of its students to attend the ceremony, including the school band. The enthusiastic cheers from the bleachers seemed to prove the students were just as proud of the award as the school staff.

“It’s a really great honor,” said Nazifa Fazli, 17. “I think it encourages everyone to try even harder.”

Another student and future pediatrician, Raymond Maciel, 17, said that the awards give the students and staff a chance to show special their school is. “Dozier-Libbey, from its environment to its excellent teachers – it makes our futures one step easier to achieve,” he said.

17-year-old student Celynn Knight summed up the ceremony by simply saying, “Everyone here is a family.”

After all of the accolades perhaps that’s the one thing that really sets Dozier-Libbey apart.

Antioch Charter Academy II received a $10,000 grant in November from the Hershey Foundation. Colleen Dow, an employee of Hershey, chose the school as the receipient of the grant. Wednesday, December 14, at an assembly, Colleen presented the check with balloons and chocolate kisses for all. Colleen is a parent of one of the middle school students, Lance Dow. Students, parents and staff will be discussing possible ways to use the grant money. Photos courtesy of Jeannie Dubitsky.