Senior Class President’s singing inspires students, faculty, staff and Principal to join in dancing

By Frances Spijker

Students at Dozier-Libbey Medical High School displayed their knowledge and talents during an evening that included a science fair, as well as art and talent shows, in the school’s multipurpose room on Friday, May 6. A variety of students participated with the Garden Club serving a pizza dinner.

Following are the winners of the Science Fair.

9th/10th Grade:

1st place:  Chinyere Umozurike   $100 prize

2nd place:  Stephanie Spijker  $75 prize

3rd place:  Jordin Lara  $50 prize

11th/12th Grade:

1st place:  Andie Lindeman  $100 prize

2nd place:  (group project)  Matthew Beland, Sierra Abel, Mina Hernandez  split the $75 prize.

3rd place:  Lucas Stuart-Chilcote $50 prize.

Honorable mentions for great projects:  Madison Miller, Sarah Bohannon, both freshmen. Were given Starbucks gift cards

I have requested from the science teachers that they offer some type of extra credit to their students for their extra effort and helping us to promote this new annual event that I hope to grow bigger and better each  year.  I hope to work with the administration next year as PTSA Pres. to set up the fair earlier so that the students have time to participate in the larger fairs available in the district/region.  Thanks to Callida Martinez, one of our science teachers, for her help in organizing this event.

The awesome participants in the art show by the DLMHS Art Club, included Matthew Beland, Chinyere Umozurike, Cheyanne Jellich, Madison Miller, Ismal Obad and Graciela Ornelas.

Club Sponsor:  Gretchen Kohl (she did an awesome job organizing the amazing artwork.)

Talent Show performers:

The Hula Club

Freshman Nicole Cadigan sang Love Story by Taylor Swift

Sophomore Xavia Tanner sang NO by Meghan Trainor

Sophomore Merry D Wilson played Hey Jude on the saxophone and the audience sang along with “nah, nah, nah, nananana, nananana, hey Jude.”

Senior Class President and President of the Garden Club, Lucas Stuart-Chilcote sang the 1972 song Dancing in the Moonlight with Senior Andreas Soto, as his back up dancer.

Chilcote’s performance inspired other students and staff, and even Principal Scott Bergerhouse to join in and dance to the music.

We would like to give a special Thank You to our prestigious Science Fair judges:  DLMHS science teacher, Callida Martinez;  AUSD Board President Diane Gibson-Gray, Trustees Walter Ruehlig and Fernando Navarro,  and Interim Superintendent Stephanie Anello.  Thanks also to School Board Trustee Debra Vinson for representing the board and attending our event.

Our upcoming year will be filled with many new and exciting events at Dozier-Libbey to stimulate the young minds of the future.

Spijker helped organize the science fair. She is the Executive Vice President of the Dozier-Libbey PTSA.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

 

 

By Allen Payton

At the Antioch School Board meeting, last night (Wednesday, May 25, 2016) Board President Diane Gibson-Gray read the following statement about the search for a new superintendent, when reporting out from the closed session, earlier that day:

“The Board has narrowed the search to a finalist but no decision on actual employment has been made until the completion of negotiations on the terms of employment. The final decision would come with approval of the new superintendent’s contract which should be scheduled on or before the June 22, 2016 Board meeting. No candidate names will be released pending agreement on the contract and review of any additional information that may come to the attention of the Board.

All those interviewed have been notified of developments which have occurred to date.

Negotiations with the finalist will occur between now and the Board meeting. The Board will ask its attorney to develop a proposed contract with Board President Diane Gibson-Gray and Board Member Debra Vinson.”

In a subseqent email from Gibson-Gray, she wrote “The board reached a consensus on a final candidate. There was no vote to report out.”

The name of the candidate was not released.

“Once the contract has been negotiated it will be placed on a regular meeting agenda for a vote in public,” Gibson-Gray added. “Until then, the candidate name is confidential.”

Newly appointed Trustee Alonzo Terry has not been included in the board meetings regarding the search for a new superintendent. He is expected to take his seat on the board at their next regular meeting on June 8, following the required 30 days of the provisional appointment period.

When asked how the board can reach a consensus without a vote and if that’s legal, Gibson-Gray responded in an email, “The process is conducted using our board attorney. Not being an attorney, I cannot tell you about the legality of a consensus without a vote.”

Board Member Debra Vinson, who was asked the same question, said Gibson-Gray had been chosen to speak for the board on the matter.

A request was made to Gibson-Gray for the Board’s attorney to provide a legal opinion on the issue. Check back for that update.

The Governing Board (Board) reports progress is being made on the search for the next chancellor of the Contra Costa Community College District (District) following Chancellor Helen Benjamin’s December 31, 2016, retirement announcement.  The Board is committed to conducting an equitable, inclusive, and transparent national search that will attract a strong pool of outstanding candidates.

“The selection of our next chancellor is one of our most important responsibilities,” said Governing Board President Vicki Gordon.  “We encourage our students, staff, and community members to participate in the process.”

Community input on the following two questions can be submitted online through the District’s website by clicking onto “Chancellor Search,” or you may send an email directly to search consultant Dr. Pamila Fisher at pamfisher@bresnan.net as soon as possible.

The questions are:

1. What are the major issues and challenges facing the District and its colleges in the next three to five years?
2. What characteristics, qualities, attributes and skills do you think are critical for the new chancellor’s success?

Progress reports and updates will be posted on the District website, and members of the community can meet the chancellor finalists at public forums during the last stage of the process.

The Contra Costa Community College District (CCCCD) is one of the largest multi-college community college districts in California. The CCCCD serves a population of 1,019,640 people, and its boundaries encompass all but 48 of the 734-square-mile land area of Contra Costa County. The District is home to Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, as well as educational centers in Brentwood and San Ramon.  Each college is individually accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. The District headquarters is located in downtown Martinez.

Ms. Brittany Fank, a Kindergarten to 2nd grade teacher – and Association of American Educators member – from Antioch Charter Academy II in Antioch, has been awarded a teacher scholarship by the Association of American Educators Foundation (AAEF). She was one of 15 award winners from across the country. Fank’s scholarship will be used to fund a Montessori training program that teaches curriculum in nine subject areas and thoroughly prepares teachers to inspire students with a unique style of Montessori learning.

“Thanks to this AAE teacher scholarship, I’ll now know critical Montessori lessons that have proven useful in so many classrooms across the country. Instead of having to learn each step as I come to them before presenting them to the classroom, I’ll now only have to review the lesson before teaching,” explained Fank. “Montessori lessons are presented in a certain series of steps and have extensions to teach if a student is ready for them which makes this knowledge critical to strong implementation. I plan to integrate my new knowledge into my everyday classroom routines and instruction by being well versed in all aspects of Montessori. The Montessori method encompasses tactics on teaching the whole child and not just the academic aspects.”

AAEF is committed to offering individual educators teacher scholarships and classroom grants to optimize student learning.

“AAEF applauds the dedication that Brittany has demonstrated by trying to implement proven teaching methods into her classroom,” said AAEF Chairman Gary Beckner. “Without question, teachers like Brittany make AAE scholarships and grants a worthy investment in empowering educators to meet their professional potential.”

The AAE Foundation’s National Scholarships and Grants competition is held twice a year in the fall and spring and is open to all educators. The deadline for the annual fall competition is October 1 and spring is March 1 each year.

The Association of American Educators Foundation is the non-profit charitable arm of the Association of American Educators (AAE), a non-union professional organization for teachers across the country. With members in all 50 states, AAE is the nation’s premier, non-union professional educators association, offering a modern approach to teacher representation and educational advocacy. Membership is 16.50 per month and includes $2 million in professional liability insurance, employment rights coverage, professional development resources, as well as a host of other benefits.

For more information about AAEF or the Association of American Educators, visit www.aaeteachers.org.

The Governing Board (Board) has officially begun the search for the next chancellor of the Contra Costa Community College District (District). The Board is committed to conducting an equitable, inclusive, and transparent national search that will attract a strong pool of outstanding candidates, and encourages members of the community to participate in the selection process.

Assisting the District in the chancellor search is the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). ACCT has conducted over 400 community college executive searches and brings a wealth of information and expertise to the process. Working directly with the District is Dr. Pamila Fisher, a longtime California community college educator, who recently assisted in the search for the new president of Contra Costa College. A search committee is currently being identified using District policy guidelines, representing a cross-section of constituents, including students and community members. During the summer months the primary activity will be recruitment led by ACCT, and the search committee’s work will occur in September and October with the goal of announcing our new chancellor by the end of the year.

Open public forums are being held on May 23rd and May 24th with Dr. Fisher to learn more about the search process and to share ideas on the challenges and opportunities facing the District and the ideal characteristics desired in the new chancellor. Here are the dates, location and times of the public forums.

Date	Location	Time	Room
May 23	LMC	10:00 am – 11:30 am	L-109
May 23	CCC	12:30 pm – 2:00 pm	Three Seasons, AA-239
May 23	DO	3:00 pm – 4:30 pm	Board Room
May 24	DVC	11:00 am – 12:30 pm	Diablo Room

For those unable to attend one of the public forums, you may provide your comments by clicking here.

The questions for you to consider are:

1. What are the major issues and challenges facing the District and its colleges in the next three to five years?
2. What characteristics, qualities, attributes and skills do you think are critical for the new chancellor’s success?

The District is seeking a new leader following Chancellor Helen Benjamin’s December 31, 2016, retirement announcement.

Progress reports and updates will be posted on the District website. Members of the community will also have an opportunity to meet the chancellor finalists at public forums during the last stage of the process.

On Thursday, May 12, the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) honored 41 high school students, representing 27 schools in Contra Costa and Alameda counties, with the Students of Excellence Awards for their outstanding achievement in their CTE/ROP (Career Technical Education/Regional Occupational Program) classes. The celebrated students were each presented a certificate of merit and a $250.00 scholarship award. Scholarship funding was provided by Honda Walnut Creek, John Muir Health, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Walnut Creek Honda, and C&H Sugar.

More than 200 attendees were on hand at the Concord Senior Center. Along with the honored students and their families, the students’ teachers and ROP business-partnership representatives were also on hand.  Welcoming remarks were made by Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Karen Sakata, County Board of Education President Christine Deane, Assembly Member Jim Frazier, and CCCOE Director of Student Programs Janet Haun.

Superintendent Sakata individually presented the awards and checks to each student on stage, followed by a short speech from each of the awardees. The common themes of the heart-felt speeches were their gratitude of their parents and families, as well as their appreciation for their CTE/ROP courses and teachers. Many of the students said their CTE/ROP courses were the highlight of coming to school, and that the classes made their future career goals much clearer.

The Contra Costa County CTE/ROP serves nearly 12,000 students annually with classes in 34 high schools throughout Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Currently, there are 393 state-of-the-art career development classes in this program. CTE/ROP focuses on career preparation and exploration, hands-on experience, and academic excellence to prepare students for success in college and future careers. CTE/ROP provides students with the newest equipment, rigorous academic standards, and classes in emerging technologies. All of the CTE/ROP classes and programs are directed by and funded through the CCCOE. For more information about CTE/ROP classes, visit their website.

The following outstanding students received certificates of merit plus $250.00 in scholarship awards for the CTE/ROP courses they excelled in during the current school year:

ANTIOCH
Mark Jovero, Art & Animatio,
Antioch High School – Erin Susoev, Instructor

Angelita Yarborough, Careers in Teaching
Antioch High School – Tamsen Armstrong, Instructor

Shyriah Vaughn, Cosmetology
Delta Beauty College – Tamara Reaves, Instructor

Jacqueline Villaseñor, Sports Medicine
Dozier-Libbey Medical High School – Kim O’Leary, Instructor

Jordan Bjorklund, Television Production
Deer Valley High School – Kiel Olff, Instructor

Noah Lema, Marketing
Deer Valley High School – Steve Kish, Instructor

BERKELEY
Milo Whitburn-Thomas, Advanced Digital Photography
Berkeley High School – Gabriel Berent, Instructor

BRENTWOOD
Miranda Breves, Robotics Engineering
Heritage High School – Rob Pardi, Instructor

Christianna McFarland, Law Enforcement Careers
Heritage High School – Matt Carr, Instructor

Joseph Gliedt, Fire Science
Liberty High School – James Scarbrough, Instructor

Tianna Nelson, Automotive Technology
Liberty High School – Jonathan Dorr, Instructor

CLAYTON
Miya Adolphson, Game Design
Clayton Valley Charter High School – Evan Hughes, Instructor

Andrey Pristinsky, Civil Engineering & Architecture
Clayton Valley Charter High School – Scott Farquhar, Instructor

CONCORD
Jake Gorospe, Computer Applications
Concord High School – Laurie Harris, Instructor

Zachary Ruiz, Robotics Engineering
Concord High School – Tom Trowbridge, Instructor

Yoselin Tamayo, Careers in Teaching
Ygnacio Valley High School – Thatcher Palmer, Instructor

Claire Rader, Biotechnology
Ygnacio Valley High School – Maria Fletcher, Instructor

DANVILLE
Grant Hayes, Architectural Design
Monte Vista High School – Mike Huntsman, Instructor

Katie Parker, AP Environmental Science
San Ramon Valley High School – Cindy Egan, Instructor

EL CERRITO
Lucy Tabor, Art of Video Production
El Cerrito High School Theodore Grover, Instructor

LAFAYETTE
Julia Lauer, Digital Arts/Design for the Web
Acalanes High School – Susan Lane, Instructor

MARTINEZ
Elizabeth Doty, Automotive Technology
Alhambra High School – Brian Wheeler, Instructor

Matt Webb, Construction Technology
Alhambra High School – Jay Heeb, Instructor

MORAGA
Holly Moore, Advanced Sports Medicine
Campolindo High School – Ray Albiento, Instructor

OAKLEY
Kaleigh Rubio, Careers with Children
Freedom High School – Elizabeth Rodriguez, Instructor

PIEDMONT
Kaitlyn De Mello, Culinary Careers
Piedmont High School – M’Lisa Kelley, Instructor

PINOLE
Marina Boudsady, Publications
Pinole Valley High School – Alexander Van Hook, Instructor

Shalvena Sharma, Law Enforcement Careers
Pinole Valley High School – Patricia Blades, Instructor

PITTSBURG
Shudipto Rahman, AP Computer Science
Pittsburg High School – Romeo Simionas, Instructor

RICHMOND
Luis Arreola, Hospital Health Services
De Anza High School – David Pintado, Instructor

Simranpreet Kaur, Hospital Health Services
De Anza High School – Fathom Riordan-Ng, Instructor

Jacqueline Hopkins, Digital Photography
Kennedy High School – Steve Pinto, Instructor

Mariana Romero, Advanced Photography
Richmond High School – John Ohlmann, Instructor

SAN RAMON
Annissa Bensalah, Journalism Productions
California High School – Brian Barr, Instructor

Kathryn Lew, Analytical Forensic Science
California High School – Andrew White, Instructor

Emily Lai, Introduction to Business
Dougherty Valley High School – Jeff Silverman, Instructor

Bethany Vega, Computer Graphic Arts
Dougherty Valley High School – Jeff Silverman, Instructor

WALNUT CREEK
Jaclyn Leonard, Medical Technologies
Las Lomas High School – Kathleen Mooney, Instructor

Makena Paynton, Sports Medicine
Northgate High School – Glen Barker, Instructor

Roya Stoops, Veterinary Science
Northgate High School – Melanie Scott, Instructor

Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math