PLEASANT HILL, Calif., September 25, 2015 – Last Friday night, in an energy-filled and packed Concord Hilton banquet room, Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Karen Sakata, announced Maria McClain, of Antioch Unified School District and Kate Perry of Liberty Union High School District as the county’s 2015–2016 Teachers of the Year.

Maria McClain recently began her 28th year of teaching grades 10–12 for the Antioch Unified School District. For the past 19 years, McClain has been at Deer Valley High School (Antioch). McClain has taught high school pre-calculus, AP Calculus, AP statistics, and algebra, as well as junior high school mathematics and algebra. McClain obtained her undergraduate college units at Diablo Valley College, followed by earning her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and teaching credentials at California State University, Sacramento.

“Through her dedication, Maria McClain consistently demonstrates the finest qualities and attributes of a highly skilled educator and serves as a solid role model for her fellow peers,” says Susan Ceballos, vice principal, Deer Valley High School. “It is truly refreshing to observe how she creates an academic environment that is both engaging and enriching for all her students. On a daily basis, Ms. McClain maintains a standards-based instructional program that not only promotes an appreciation for mathematics, but also provides her students with the fundamental learning concepts for life-long application. At the same time, she implements successful instructional strategies that address the diverse learning needs of all students. In doing so, she differentiates her instructional approach by employing an array of strategies and activities to monitor student progress daily. Perhaps and most importantly, Ms. McClain is able to motivate her students by establishing high expectations while still maintaining a nurturing rapport with them during the instructional period.”

This past July, Kate Perry began her fifth year of teaching social science to grades 9–12 at Independence High School, in Brentwood. The nine-year teacher also taught social studies at St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School, in Vallejo, and worked as a service learning coordinator for Irvington High School in Fremont. Perry attained her bachelor’s degree in political science from San Francisco State University, earning her teaching credentials at Mills College and University of California Extension. Last year, she received her master’s degree in education from Mills College.

“I enrolled into Independent High School as a sophomore, after dropping out six moths prior from my first high school,” reports Perry’s former student, Tiffany Montana. “When I came to Ms. Perry, I didn’t have goals and graduation was farfetched. That was not good enough for her. She showed me that if I stayed focused on my schoolwork and I worked hard, I could graduate on time. Ms. Perry knew I could be anything I wanted, and helped me realize that I really could be anything I wanted to be. While attending Independence, she would text or call me before class to make sure I was going to come in. As a teacher, she provided me with the push I needed. Knowing my decisions could potentially disappoint her was enough for me to do my best. When I graduated on time, in 2014, I had a 3.7 GPA and was looking forward to my future. I owe this drastic change to Ms. Perry’s dedication to my education.”

After both teachers were named Teacher of the Year by their school districts, last March, McClain and Perry successfully proceeded, with the other 16 eligible county candidates, through a rigorous countywide selection process, it included an application screening, classroom evaluation, interview, and speech presentation. Their fellow finalists are Dawn Foote, Liberty Union High School District (Ron Nunn Elementary) and Paul Fitzgerald, Acalanes Union High School District, (Miramonte High).

More than 400 attendees were on hand for an evening that will certainly not be forgotten. The audience was made up of the TOYs’ family members and friends, as well as numerous local educators, business partners, and elected officials. Kicking off the festivities were a few high-energy musical numbers, featuring intricate rhythms of percussion instruments and complementary harmonies of a 60-student group from Alamo Elementary. The tremendous performance was lead by their music teacher, Nancy Raaum.

The evening also featured Sakata introducing the TOY class of 2015–2016 of sharing with the audience her visits to each of the teachers’ classrooms, and the comments their students gave her about their teachers. This was followed by speeches of the TOY finalists on the topic: “What I have learned from my students.” After the finalists’ speeches were given, McClain and Perry’s announcement was made by Sakata.

McClain and Perry will now compete with all the other county representatives in the California State TOY competition. The California State Teachers of the Year are expected to be announced in late October. The county TOY program is coordinated by the Contra Costa County Office of Education. (For additional TOY info, visit the CCCOE’s Teacher of the Year page).

About the Teacher of the Year Program

In 1972, California began recognizing outstanding teachers, establishing the Teachers of the Year Program. This program is open to all teachers in public & private schools who teacher pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Contra Costa County has participated in the program since its beginning, when Joseph E. Davis, Jr., of the Acalanes Union High School District, was named the county’s first representative.

Since that time, four teachers from this county have been State finalists: Janet Neill, San Ramon Valley Unified (1975); David Eakin, John Swett Unified (1981); William Thomas, Mt. Diablo Unified (1982); and Janice Bergamini, Mt. Diablo Unified (1991). In addition, William Pence, San Ramon Valley Unified (1999), was selected to represent California at the National Teacher of the Year level. And, in the last two years, the County has had two other state representatives – Mary Allan, Antioch Unified (2001) and Janet Gower, Mt. Diablo Unified (2002). For a list of all of the Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year Representatives please click here.

The county’s TOY program is directed by the CCCOE. With such a high caliber of teaching professionals to draw from, the CCCOE’s TOY program uses a three-stage selection process, with a point and percentage system to determine the final candidate as follows:

Application Screening:

On March 20, a committee of 13, representing the county’s education, business, and public-sector partners meticulously reviewed the applications submitted by the school districts. This committee independently rated each application. After the application screening and scoring were completed, five teachers were selected to advance to the next phase as semifinalists.

Classroom Observation and Interview:

During the weeks of late April and early May, a small committee of education specialists and business partners will observe the semifinalists interacting with their students. Immediately following, the committee interviews the candidates, discussing topics such as their teaching philosophy and techniques. The results of the two screening processes are then combined to determine the four finalists.

Speech Presentation:

This coming August, the four TOY finalists will each give a three- to five-minute speech to another panel of a dozen educators, business, and public-sector representatives who will judge the finalists on their speech and presentation skills.

On the evening of September 24, 2015, all 22 TOYs, accompanied by their families, friends, and co-workers (an audience of approximately 400) will be honored at the annual Teacher of the Year Dinner Celebration, held at the Hilton Concord. Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Karen Sakata, who serves as master of ceremonies, introduces the TOYs by sharing a special story that reflects his classroom visits of each teacher during the recent spring and summer months. This will be followed by the four finalists giving their three- to five-minute speeches (same speeches given in August) to the filled banquet room. The excitement-filled evening will come to a dramatic close with the announcement of the 2015-2016 Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year.

The County representative is announced at the Awards Dinner in September at a gala affair that honors each district’s Teacher of the Year. Local business and community organizations generously donate classroom grants, services and other items to each of the district winners.

For more information and to see all of this year’s finalists, visit http://www.cccoe.k12.ca.us/supe/toy.html#about

Follows Superintendent Don Gill’s resignation announcement

By Allen Payton

In an evening that began with comments by and about Superintendent Dr. Don Gill’s announced resignation, at Wednesday’s Antioch School Board meeting, took a surprising turn with the resignation of School Board Trustee Barbara Cowan, one year before her term was up.

At the beginning of the meeting, Board President Claire Smith announced that during an earlier closed session, the board voted 5-0 to accept the superintendent’s letter of intent, to resign.

Then, during public comments, Cowan’s husband Richard Asadoorian spoke, spoke giving glowing accolades about her and listing her accomplishments, in what appeared to be the beginning of a re-election campaign announcement.

“Barbara Cowan chose to seek a position on the Antioch School Board in 2012,” he stated. “Following her election, she immersed herself in the business of the district.”

But, then his comments turned critical and he spoke of transparency.

“After the 2014 election, something changed,” Asadoorian said.

“Loyalty is the holiest good in the human heart,” he stated, quoting the Roman philosopher and statesman Seneca. “Barbara Cowan is the personification of loyalty to this district.”

That was followed by a loud round of applause from the unusually large, overflow crowd for a board meeting, made up mostly of teachers and other district staff. They were wearing buttons with the slogan “We Are Stronger Together” and in attendance to encourage the district in its negotiations with their union.

Following her husband and speaking from the podium after literally stepping down from the dais, Trustee Cowan showed her emotions, as she read from prepared notes, in which she resigned, effective immediately.

“This is very hard for me,” she began. “At the end of my term in November 2016, my husband and I had planned to move back to our home in Oregon.”

Cowan proceeded to outline the reasons for her resignation.

“November, 2014 proved to be the beginning of a new and unfortunate direction that the Board has taken.”

She then spoke of individual staff members being “criticized and scrutinized” and the “low morale and apprehensive atmosphere” in the district office.

“I have come to the conclusion, that I, as a minority of one have no power to pull us out of this morass. I am, therefore, submitting my resignation…effective this evening.”

Cowan then took a seat in the audience, next to her husband.

Public comments continued with positive comments from both Willie Mims and Angel Luevano about both Gill and Cowan.

“I hate to follow a resignation,” Mims stated. “But, I wish Barbara Cowan the best of luck. I will miss her and hate to see her resign.”

He then directed his comments toward Gill.

“It was chaos in this district when you came,” he continued. “You brought a sense of peace.”

Luevano said “I respect and accept your decisions. You’re leaving a big void.”

He then parodied a song made famous by Kenny Rogers, “You picked a fine time to leave us Barbara and Don Gill.”

During a break in the meeting, Cowan and Asadoorian left the meeting and were greeted with hugs, handshakes and farewells from friends, supporters and district staff.

They will be moving to their Oregon home in Sun River in a week and a half.

Following is Cowan’s complete resignation speech, she provided the Herald:

At the end of my term in November, 2016, my husband and I planned to move back to our home in Oregon. Since my election in 2012, I have felt that my mission was to support the District, Staff and our students with wisdom, caring, and using my experience to make the best decisions for our children. For the first two years of my term, the Board, the Superintendent, and Antioch staff created and implemented progressive policies and programs that enhanced and enriched our students’ education and their lives. We improved school culture, relationships, and academics through PBIS, Restorative Justice, the African American Male Initiative, and by working closely with community advocacy groups such as Parents Connected. We expanded the very successful linked learning and academies that have become renowned throughout the State as model programs. We recognized and awarded teachers who have demonstrated excellence in special ceremonies at Board meetings. We made our schools safer by hiring and training more effective security personnel and hiring a professional security company, Strategic Threat Management. We wholeheartedly embraced LCAP and its requirements to demonstrate our successes by stringent metrics and outcomes. We enjoyed a special alliance with AEA and CSEA. The principals and school site administrators we hired during those two years have proven to be outstanding and very effective.

November, 2014 proved to be the beginning of a new and unfortunate direction that the Board has taken. Individual staff members have been criticized and scrutinized. Proposed programs by school sites and District personnel have been rejected time after time which resulted, in some cases, in employees not being paid in a timely manner. The low morale and apprehensive atmosphere in the District office is palpable. The calling of multiple special Board meetings sent a disconcerting message to staff and community.

I have come to the conclusion that this Board will continue on its negative course and I, as a minority of one, have no power to pull us out of this morass.

I am, therefore, submitting my resignation as Trustee of the Antioch Unified School Board of Education effective this evening, Wednesday, September 23, 2015.

 

 

Washington, DC (Sept. 21, 2015) – U.S. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) invites all young people in the Eleventh Congressional District who would like to apply to one of the nation’s service academies to attend “Service Academy Night 2015” which will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 from 6 pm to 8 pm at Diablo Valley College.

DeSaulnier said representatives of the nation’s service academies, including the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Military Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, will all be on hand to speak with prospective students. Service academy representatives will give presentations. Additionally, DeSaulnier’s Congressional staff will provide a briefing on the nomination process.

Students who wish to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy must send a completed application to Congressman DeSaulnier’s office by October 19, 2015. A selection committee established by Congressman DeSaulnier will review applications; all the selected names will be submitted to the respective academies in December. In order to be considered eligible, all applicants must be citizens of the United States, legal residents of California, unmarried with no children, and at least 17 years of age but no older than 23 as of July 1, 2016.

What: Congressman DeSaulnier’s Invites High School Students to “Service Academy Night 2015”

When: Tuesday, September 22, 2015 from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Where: Diablo Valley College, The Diablo Room, 3rd Floor HFS Building, 321 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill, CA 84523.

For more information on applying to any of the service academies, please call Pat Joyce in Congressman DeSaulnier’s office at (925) 933-2660.

SAN LUIS OBISPO – For the second consecutive year, Cal Poly ITE, a student chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, has been named the institute’s international chapter of the year.

The student group – including chapter events coordinator Kelsey Littell from Anitoch – was honored at the ITE annual conference, held August 2-5 in Hollywood, Florida.

“I don’t know specifically what put us over the top again this year,” said Kevin Carstens, chapter president. “But my guess is that, in addition to our increase in membership and activities, it was our acquisition of the Transportation Engineering Student Project Area. It’s a new space in Cal Poly’s Bonderson Projects Center, which is now dedicated to transportation engineering projects and research.”

In addition to Carstens and Littell, the 2014-15 Cal Poly ITE chapter officers included Krista Purser, vice president; Karl Schmidt, treasurer; Alex Chambers, secretary; Monica Fiedler-Ross, firm tours coordinator; Bobby Sidhu, marketing coordinator and Engineering Student Council representative; and Troy Kawahara, historian and webmaster.

The club also won the title and $2,000 in the ITE Collegiate Traffic Bowl Grand Championships, competing with teams from each district in Canada and the U.S. The University of Manitoba and Purdue University placed second and third, respectively.

“Winning the Traffic Bowl was the cherry on top of this year’s Student Chapter of the Year award,” said Anurag Pande, faculty advisor for the club.

“We may not play schools like Purdue on the gridiron, but this was almost as exciting—– the three finalists turned it into a very close contest,” he said. “The Jeopardy-style event has a traffic and transportation engineering theme, and the winning question was ‘What is a sharrow?’” (Answer: A lane marking that tells drivers where to expect to share the lane with bicyclists).

Cal Poly contestants in the Traffic Bowl competition included chapter officers Carstens, Purser, Chambers and Sidhu.

The Institute of Transportation Engineers is an international association of nearly 17,000 transportation professionals and more than 140 student chapters.

Related links:

Cal Poly ITE Student Chapter www.calpolyite.com.

Institute of Transportation Engineers http://www.ite.org/

SALT LAKE CITY (Grassroots Newswire) August 26, 2015 – The following local students have earned degrees from Western Governors University (WGU). The university held its 29th semi-annual commencement ceremony in Salt Lake City on August 15 and celebrated the graduation of more than 8,500 graduates. In addition to recognizing students who graduated in the past six months, the nation’s first competency-based university marked another major milestone— 50,000 graduates in just 15 years.

*Carla Boyer-Satterfield of Antioch has received her Master of Science in Nursing – Leadership and Management

*Yiffta Pahoma Elsea of Antioch has received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing

*Michael Fronda of Pittsburg has received his Master of Science in Nursing – Leadership and Management

WGU was founded in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality higher education, and in 2000, the university awarded its first degree. The nonprofit university focuses on providing flexible, affordable degree programs that meet the needs of busy working adults, particularly those who have started, but not completed, a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Of WGU’s 50,000 graduates, nearly 20,000 are first-generation college students.

At its August 15 commencement, the university awarded 5,292 undergraduate and 3,220 graduate degrees in business, information technology, K-12 teacher education, and healthcare professions, including nursing.

Graduates reside in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, as well as Armed Forces personnel stationed overseas. President and CEO of Intermountain Healthcare, Dr. Charles W. Sorenson, delivered the commencement address. Students who were not able to attend the ceremony in person were able to watch the event via live video stream on the WGU website.

About WGU

Established in 1997 by a bipartisan group of U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, WGU is the pioneer and leader in competency-based education.

The nonprofit, online university has been recognized by the White House as what works in post-secondary education, was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and has been featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times.

WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. In 2014, the National Council on Teacher Quality ranked WGU’s secondary teacher education program as number one among a nationwide list of 2,400 programs. WGU has earned the support of a number of leading corporations and foundations, including AT&T, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lilly Endowment, HCA, Hewlett-Packard, Lumina Foundation, Microsoft, Oracle, SunGard Higher Education, and Zions Bank.

More information is available at www.wgu.edu or by calling 866.225.5948.

By Allen Payton

Following an investigation, Contra Costa District Attorney Mark A. Peterson announced today, Wednesday, August 5, 2015 the filing of a single misdemeanor charge alleging a violation of section 18351 of the California Elections Code against Jeffery J. Belle, Area 5 Trustee for the Contra Costa County Board of Education. Belle DA Complaint 08-05-15

According to a press release from Peterson, “It is alleged that Jeffrey [sic] Belle, a candidate in an election, knowingly made a false statement of a material fact in a candidate’s statement with the intent to mislead the voters in connection with his campaign for election to a nonpartisan office.”

Belle was elected last November, defeating incumbent County School Board Trustee Cynthia Ruehlig.

“Voters are entitled to know the truth about their candidates when they are voting.” Peterson said, “The democratic process is fundamental to our system of government. The integrity of our elections is fundamental to that process and must be protected.”

Section 18351 of the Elections Code reads “Any candidate in an election or incumbent in a recall election who knowingly makes a false statement of a material fact in a candidate’s statement, prepared pursuant to Section 11327 or 13307, with the intent to mislead the voters in connection with his or her campaign for nomination or election to a nonpartisan office is punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).”

On his ballot statement Belle stated he had a “Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.” Ruehlig & Belle candidate statements

However, in an October article by Herald staff, “according to The Office of the Registrar at Oklahoma City University, although Belle did attend the school, and did study political science, he did not receive a degree from them.”

In an interview with this writer, on October 27, 2014 Belle admitted that he did not have a degree because he still had to pay some fees to the school. He explained that Oklahoma City University works with American University in a program called the Washington Semester, the hours from which applied to his degree.

“I still owe American University for room and board for that semester of almost $3,000,” Belle claimed. “However, in 1989 I walked in the graduation, and they acknowledge it, but they won’t confer the degree, until then.”

“I don’t have to take any more courses,” he added. “That’s why I’m able to take the Master’s degree program in Public Administration, with an emphasis in Health Policy and Public Policy, from the American Public University System.”

However, his explanation about the fees has proven to be false, as well. Earlier this year, his now-estranged wife, Carmen stated the fees had been withheld from her tax return, yet Jeff still didn’t have his degree. He was working toward a Master’s degree, last year, but Belle had to discontinue that since he did not yet have his Bachelor’s degree, which is required in order to obtain a Master’s degree.

Belle’s false claim of a college degree on his candidate’s statement and false explanation appear to be part of a pattern.

The October Herald article further stated:

“Belle has also come under fire for making false claims regarding his education. For example, at one time he claimed to have obtained a Ph.D. from Harrington University, in London. The ‘school’ is well-documented as a diploma mill, where, according to some reports, degrees could be obtained for as little as $1400, and have even been handed out to pet dogs and cats. During his October 22 [2014] press conference, however, Belle admitted he did not have a Ph.D.

Belle has repeatedly given conflicting statements regarding his education. On his application to serve as Antioch’s representative to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority – Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CCTA-CAC), received by the Antioch City Clerk’s office on July 30, 2013, Belle states that he is scheduled to complete a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) in 2014 from Grand Canyon University. On his Linked-in profile, though, he states that he received his MPA from American Public University System in 2014. At the media event he held on October 22, Belle admitted he has no Master’s Degree.

Also on the CCTA-CAC application, Belle states that he has a BS in Political Science from Oklahoma City University / American Public University.

A different statement appears on his linked-in profile, where he says that he obtained that degree from Oklahoma City University in 1988. At the media event he held on October 22, Belle was repeatedly asked by CBS Channel 5 television reporter Da Lin whether or not he had a Bachelor’s degree at all. Belle, at one point, mentioned having obtained a Bachelor’s degree from ‘Biosystems Institute,’ but then quickly backpedaled, and refused to address the question further.”

His LinkedIn profile now states next to Education, “American Public University System.”

More recently, Belle continued his pattern of making false statements with regards to his residency.

When asked where he now lives, in response to both a Facebook post by Carmen, that she and her daughter now live in Sacramento, after he and they were evicted from their rented Antioch home in April, as well as rumors Belle was no longer living in his district, he said he now lives in Brentwood. Carmen said Jeff had told her that he lives in Pittsburg. Yet, the information Belle provided to the County Office of Education was an address for a mailbox inside a mailing business in Antioch.

After emails and a phone call, last month, informing staff for the County Office of Education about the location of Belle’s address that they had on file, the following week, Katie Gaines, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources provided a new address as reported to her by Belle. That address has been confirmed to be a residence in Antioch, within the district. But, it has not yet been confirmed if he actually lives there.

Belle represents parts of Antioch, Pittsburg, Bay Point and Brentwood, and all of Oakley, Bethel Island, Knightsen and Clyde on the board.

According to the District Attorney’s press release, the maximum penalty for a violation of California Elections Code section 18351 is $1,000.

Check back for more details as this story further unfolds.

By Cynthia Ruehlig

There is plenty to bark about at Synergy Education Project High School (SEP High School), a tuition-free public school serving grades 6-12 students from Pittsburg / Contra Costa County. On July 9, SEP was unanimously approved by the California State Board of Education to add an arts education component to its project-based learning approach; offering electives in dance, vocal music, theater and visual arts starting this fall.

SEP, which accepts 70% socio-economic disadvantaged students, leads in overall performance for English Language Learners for middle schools within a 15 mile radius from its Pittsburg location. SEP has successfully responded to changing demographics and the challenge to overcome the achievement gap. SEP Board of Directors has chosen Encore Education Corporation to manage the school’s new direction.

Encore Executive Director Denise Griffin will apply the same strategy which earned Encore High School, Hesperia a place of distinction in “Top Schools in America” (US News and World Report); boasting the highest high school ranking by the California Department of Education in Hesperia with API of 793, 98% graduation, 100% passing in the 2013 CAHSEE and approximately two million dollars in college scholarships awarded to graduates.

A new mascot (bulldog), school colors and newly refurbished facility mark the beginning of SEP’s transformation from a good to a great school.

School starts August 13 for all enrolled students grades 6 through 11. For more information call (925) 207-3626 or visit www.sepschool.net.

Ruehlig is President of the Board of Directors for the Synergy Education Project.