Great news for college bound seniors – Travis Credit Union announced today that it will award twenty, $1,500 scholarships.

Travis Credit Union encourages all graduating seniors to apply.  Each applicant must be a high school senior with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, bound for a two–or four–year college or university and a member of Travis Credit Union in good standing.  Students who live in Travis Credit Union’s twelve-county service region and are not yet members may join the credit union and apply for a scholarship at the same time.

“In the last 12 years, we have received a tremendous response from young members who have exhibited a commitment to academic excellence and community service.  We look forward to recognizing even more of our deserving young members this year,” says Barry Nelson, Travis Credit Union’s president and CEO.

The Travis Credit Union Board of Directors established the scholarship program in 2004 and named it the Mary Keith Duff Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of a long-time board member, who passed away in December 2004.

Scholarship applications are available at any branch location or online at Travis Credit Union’s website at www.traviscu.org.  In addition to a completed application other requirements include: a 250-word essay, a certified high school transcript and a letter of recommendation from a teacher.

Completed applications must be received no later than the close of business Monday, March 7, 2016.

“As a credit union, we are founded on the philosophy of ‘people helping people,’ and we stand behind the principles that promote human development and social responsibility,” adds Nelson.  “Offering these scholarships is just one way Travis Credit Union adds value for our members and is assisting them with the increasing cost of higher education while reinforcing our commitment to their financial success.”

Headquartered in Vacaville, California, Travis Credit Union is a not-for-profit cooperative financial institution serving those who live or work in Contra Costa, Alameda, Colusa, Merced Napa, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, and Yolo Counties. Currently, Travis Credit Union is the 13th largest credit union in California with more than 177,000 members and more than $2.5 billion in assets. As one of the leading financial institutions in Solano, Contra Costa, Napa, Yolo and Merced Counties, Travis Credit Union’s strength lies in its faithful commitment to its members and the community; its solid, secure history; and its long-standing track record of dedicated service.

Travis has branches in Antioch at 2721 Lone Tree Way in the Terraces Shopping Center and 5819 Lone Tree Way, Suite A in the Slatten Ranch Shopping Center.

By Allen Payton

Research by Barbara Zivica, a regular, contributing columnist for the Herald, revealed that on August 17, 2015, following an investigation by the California Medical Board that began in 2010 and a prosecution by the California Attorney General’s office, Contra Costa County School Board Trustee Jeff Belle admitted he “is not now, nor has ever been, licensed by the Respiratory Care Board of California” and agreed to pay a fine of $8,200 in a settlement.

According to the Stipulated Citation and Order, before the Respiratory Care Board, Department of Consumer Affairs, State of California, Belle violated “Business and Professions Code section 3760, subdivisions (a) and (c) and 3761, subdivision (a), by misrepresenting himself as a respiratory care practitioner and engaging in the practice of respiratory care without a current and valid license in California.”

Those sections state “no person shall represent himself or herself to be a respiratory care practitioner…or use the abbreviation or letters ‘R.C.P.’…without a current and valid license issued under this chapter” and “granted under this chapter, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.” The maximum penalty for doing so is $15,000.

According to the Cause for Citation, Belle applied for a license as a respiratory care practitioner in California on December 24, 2010 and completed the “Board’s Statement of Understanding acknowledging he understood the following:

‘During the application period, the applicant shall be identified as a ‘Respiratory Care Practitioner Applicant’ and may only practice with a valid work permit while under the direct and immediate supervision of a licensed respiratory care practitioner.’

‘No person who has not been licensed by the Board shall engage in the practice of respiratory care despite holding a CRT or RRT credential.’

‘No person shall engage in the practice of respiratory care or represent him/herself as such through verbal claim, sign advertisement, letterhead, business care, badge/name tag, or representation unless he or she holds a valid license issued by the Board.’”

Yet, the Citation further states that “Jeffery Johura Belle was and is not licensed to practice respiratory care in the State of California nor was ever issued a work permit. On May 23, 2015, Subject’s (Belle’s) application for licensure was deemed abandoned as he failed to complete the application process.”

The investigation conducted by the California Medical Board, whose findings were forwarded to the state Respiratory Care Board, found that Belle “was owner and Chief Executive Officer of the business, Respiratory Clinical Institute (RCI), which provided tutorial and clinical rotation services to students who were completing their respiratory care studies using an online program. On March 2, 2012, the Subject appeared for an interview with the Medical Board investigator wearing a white lab coat, a name badge and a stethoscope. During the interview, the Subject introduces himself as Jeffery Belle, Respiratory Care Practitioner. On the lab coat was an embroidered patch and name badge that identified the Subject as ‘RCP.’ Subject also provided advertising and contractual/student materials to the investigator. Within the signature block of the Tutorial Agreement between RCI and the Student, the Subject is identified as an ‘RCP.’

During the interview, the Medical Board investigator informed Belle that “he was illegally representing himself as a respiratory care practitioner and again educated the Subject with the laws that govern the practice of respiratory care in the State of California.”

Belle then “signed an affidavit on March 30, 2012, stating he would no longer represent himself as a respiratory care practitioner in California.”

As part of his settlement with the state, Belle was ordered to “immediately cease and desist any and all unlicensed activities pursuant to the Respiratory Care Practice Act” and to “pay civil penalties in the amount of $8,200…to the Board” for “misrepresenting himself as a respiratory care practitioner and engaging in the practice of respiratory care in California without a valid license.”

He is to make payments of $136.66 per month for five years from the date of the decision and if Belle “fails to make a monthly payment, the remaining amount of costs shall be immediately due and payable,” that the “filing of bankruptcy…shall not relieve (him) of his responsibility to reimburse the Board” and “the Board will collect cost recovery from the Franchise Tax Board, Internal Revenue Service, or by any other means of attachment of earned wages legally available to the Board.”

In spite of the citation and order, and Belle signing the affidavit in 2012, as of January 6, 2016, on his LinkedIn account it states the following:

President/Senior Lecturer

Respiratory Clinical Institutes

January 2008 – April 2011 (3 years 4 months)Sacramento, Contra Costa County, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Oakland

Company founder and leader in training respiratory care students through clinical rotations, clinical coordination and partnerships. Established and Trained over 100 students at 10 clinical sites. Attained a student passage rate on National Board Exams of 93 percentile. The Gold Standard in Clinical Education!

Respiratory Care Specialist ( RRT)

Registered Lobbyist and Contract Practitioner

January 1999 – 2008 (9 years)CA, WA, OR, AR, TX, AZ, OK, NM,VI

Served as contract therapist with a speciality in adult critical care and pulmonary diagnostics at various hospitals, clinics and outpatient medical facilities from the U. S. Virgin Islands to Northern California. In addition, I worked as a contract lobbyist in Washington, D.C. for various companies.

Prior to entering the race for County School Board, in 2014, Belle claimed to have been licensed in other states as a respiratory care practitioner and stated he didn’t need a license in California in order to teach in the state, since he wasn’t actually practicing medicine, and that only his students were.

Belle is currently being prosecuted by the Contra Costa District Attorney for lying on his candidate ballot statement, during his 2014 election to the County School Board and faces a maximum fine of $1,000 for that violation if found guilty. Belle stated he had a “Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science,” but had not completed his course work, according to the college. He has pled not guilty and his next court date is set for 8:45 a.m., February 11, 2016 in Martinez. For more information about that case click here.

Barbara Zivica contributed this report.

By Allen Payton

In order to motivate young women in Antioch on their own personal journey of empowerment, the Antioch Rotary Club sponsored the screening of the film “The Empowerment Project” to all female students at Antioch High School and Deer Valley High School, in October. The film, created by filmmakers Dana Michelle Cook and Sarah Moshman, follows the travels of them and two other female friends across 7,000 miles throughout the United States as they find strong, positive role models in a wide variety of industries.These role models include a Four Star Admiral in the U.S. Navy, social entrepreneur, pilot, professional athlete, chef and an architect.

Besides the film, the club members, lead by their President, Dr. Stacey Duckett, arranged for five panelists, each a positive female role model, to be at each screening to be available to discuss their professional careers and to answer any questions that students may have.

“We are very committed to the success of the youth in our local community of Antioch,” said Duckett. “We want girls to know that their options are not limited and that there is a wide arrange of careers available to them.”

Last year, Lindsay Wisely from Antioch High School started the concept of “Girl Power” with its theme of female empowerment and organized a group of 20 Antioch High School alumni to speak to the female population.  Deer Valley High School is exploring developing a club that would focus on empowering its female students, if they have an interest in doing so.

As part of the project, the Antioch Rotary Club worked closely with Antioch High School’s Vice Principal Lindsay Wisely and with Deer Valley High School’s Vice Principal Susan Ceballos. Panelists included Iris Archlutta, Mary Rocha, Lindsey Wisely, Jennifer Yu, Lynnette Giacobazzi, Amy Hilton, Sylvia High, Julie Haas-Wajdowicz, Christine O’Brien, Angela Juarez-Lombardi, Monica Wilson, Misha Dunford and Duckett, following the two showings.

Kimberly Sbranti, the daughter of club member Sal Sbranti, was the transcriber for the film, and was instrumental in bringing it to Antioch.

During the screening of the 54-minute film at Deer Valley High, attended by all of the school’s female students, the greatest response of applause was given to former Miss USA 2012 Nana Meriwether and Michelle Howard, the first female Four-Star Admiral in the Navy, and an African-American.

Following the film and a strong round of applause, four of the women panelists shared their experiences and thoughts with the teens, including Antioch Councilwoman Monica Wilson, the first African-American female elected to the council; Angela Juarez Lombardi, the Public Information Officer and Marketing Manager at Sutter Delta Medical Center and an Antioch High School graduate; family law attorney Amy Hilton, and Duckett, a chiropractor in Antioch.

In response to the question, what advice would you give to your teenage self, Lombardi told the girls “You have to live out of your comfort zone.” She also said “and this too shall pass,” whether things are going good or bad in your life.

“Find what you’re passionate about,” Wilson shared, and “be open to new ideas, new experiences.”

Hilton said the girls should “first, pay attention in your English class,” to laughter from the audience.

“I’m not joking,” she continued. “Learn grammar and how to write and you’ll be in the top five percent of your profession.”

“Do everything and enjoy yourself,” Hilton added.

“Don’t give up,” was Duckett’s advice. “Pick something different. Have a cub or start a club, like Toastmasters, to help you communicate.”

One more bit of advice she would give her teenage self was “You really should have taken Spanish, not French,” with a chuckle.

To learn more about the Empowerment Project, visit www.empowermentproject.com. To learn more about the Antioch Rotary Club, visit www.AntiochRotaryClub.org.

By Allen Payton

At their regular meeting on Wednesday night, December 9, 2015, the Antioch School Board interviewed the representatives of three search firms, vying for the contract to help the district hire a new superintendent, to replace Dr. Don Gill.

After being sworn in at an earlier, special session, new trustee Fernando Navarro took his seat on the dais. In addition, the trustees voted in Diane Gibson-Gray as President and Walter Ruehlig, the highest vote-getter in last year’s election, as Vice President, for the coming year. They will begin serving in their new roles at their next meeting, in January.

Superintendent Search Firm Interviews

The board members challenged the representatives of the three search firms with questions such as how they plan to engage the community and about a money-back guarantee.

The three groups included Educational Leadership, Leadership Associates and Ray & Associates, Inc.

In response to a question by Gibson-Gray, Jim Brown of Leadership Associates and who is a former superintendent, as are his partners Sally Frazier and Rich Fischer, said their money-back guarantee applied even if the board goes with someone they don’t recommend.

“We want the candidate to interview us,” Gibson-Gray stated.

“We do too,” Brown replied. “We suggest two rounds in the interview process.”

Trustee Debra Vinson wanted to know how the search firms plan to engage the community.

Each group committed to reaching out to as many people in the community as possible.

They spoke of online surveys for the public to provide input, using the district’s website.

“There’s different steps in the process,” Brown responded. “Up front it’s very important to reach out as widely as we can and we’ll need your help to identify individuals.”

“Everybody’s perspective is important,” he added.

Dr. Carmella Franco, a former superintendent and Lead Consultant for Ray & Associates, Inc., spoke of public and employee meetings for input and a “full report with every single word taken down.”

Her colleague Noel Gallo, who served on the Oakland Board of Education for 20 years, shared his experience as a selling point.

“I know all about California and the Ed Code,” he said. “And I know Antioch. We work for the board. We work for you.”

Ruehlig asked about the current field of potential applicants.

“We don’t get the numbers we did 40 years ago or 30 years ago,” Brown replied. “Now we deal with the spouse because you’re not just hiring one, but two. We’re optimistic about the candidate pool. “We’re hoping to get 12 to 25 applicants.”

“We have a website people are checking throughout the state,” Frazier added.

Franco responded to the same question when it was her group’s turn.

“In a recent search in California, we had 54 applicants, which is unheard of,” she stated. “Some from California, some who have worked in California and want to move back. There usually is a connection to California.”

Franco said they do “deep reference checking.”

Ruehlig then asked about diversity, which Gallo had mentioned.

Franco stated they get “candidates from all backgrounds. Some bilingual, if that’s desired.”

“We want to see the superintendent be successful and for you to have a good relationship with the superintendent,” she added.

Gibson-Gray asked Franco about the money-back guarantee, as well, asking if the superintendent left within the a year would they do the search for free.

“We have the same money-back guarantee,” Franco stated. Then said they have had “less than five” superintendents that have done so.

“We have a very successful record,” she added.

Gibson-Gray then suggested the board members “mull over” their selection “individually, then come back January 20^th” at the next board meeting to take a vote.

Vinson and Ruehlig agreed. Navarro did, as well.

“Of course, I’m on board,” he said.

Public Comments, More Teacher Complaints

Resident and regular board meeting attendee, Julie Young spoke about the new federal education bill, that recently passed Congress.

“We are going to still be teaching to the test,” she stated. “It requires state that they have adopted standards that comply with 11 federal requirements. We are stuck in this Common Core that is being run by a bunch of corporations and not in the interest of the children.”

She mentioned the “21^st century initiatives making schools the sweeping influence in a child’s life.”

Deer Valley High teacher Joan Setka complained about class sizes.

“My largest class size is 37,” she stated. “But I have colleagues that have up to 44. This is more child care than teaching.”

Kenneth Kent, who teaches fifth grade at Kimball Elementary, spoke about special education.

“We have a history of placing students in special ed,” he said, then shared two concerns, including the hiring and support of special education staff.

“One left after less than a month,” Kent shared. “One who’s only there until 10 AM and another only going to be there one hour a day.”

He said the qualifying process is “laborious. It has to be streamlined.”

“We have a larger population of students who have needs,” Kent continued. “Let’s stop ignoring them.”

Deer Valley High teacher Scott Benedict shared his concerns about the teachers’ contract with the district.

“This contract we’re negotiating is not just about current teachers,” he said. “This district always seems fit to do the negotiating in the contract year. We’re doing it backwards.”

“You’re going to be faced with a huge deficit of teachers this next year, due to fewer coming out of schools,” Benedict stated.

Antioch Middle School teacher Trish Campbell complained about the lack of heat in her classroom.

“I dress in multiple layers to teach in my classroom,” she stated. “The heat wasn’t going to be turned on until the calendar said so, instead of the weather. It’s set at 61 degrees.”

“When we hit a heat wave, the air conditioning goes off and we have no windows open,” Campbell continued. “We should be able to control it in the classroom and make them [the students] comfortable.”

Pamela Fisher, a kindergarten teacher at Carmen Dragon Elementary also shared concerns about class sizes.

“Our students deserve to learn in a smaller class,” she stated. “Districts are being funded to be 24 to 1. But our district is only willing to lower to 27 to 1 at the elementary level. You’re telling us you don’t care.”

Fisher spoke of the need for “better relationships to address student needs and disciplines.”

“Now all I do is trying to keep them under control,” she added.

Robert Strickler, President of the Antioch Education Assocation (AEA), the local teachers’ union, congratulated Navarro, then directed his thoughts to Interim Superintendent Stephanie Anello, saying “If I was in charge of the search, it would be over.”

“We’re here to present Christmas cards from teachers,” Strickler said, then spoke of class sizes, especially in special education being over the legally maximum size.

“Eight teachers have filed grievances,” he stated. “Several aren’t returning next year.”

He also mentioned that there are “no computer education classes in elementary and middle schools.”

Sharon Weaver, a teacher at Turner Elementary, asked that the district would “please send your team, tomorrow,” then stated that the “special ed staff shortage is real and must be addressed to retain current employees.”

“Our students with disabilities deserve the best and that will never happen with a string of subs,” she added.

Antioch Middle School teacher Deb Hubbard offered her thoughts on the teachers’ contract discussions with the district.

“Let’s settle the contract early, instead of May,” she said. “It would be great for me and my colleagues to feel valued.”

“Pittsburg is in settlement,” Hubbard continued. “They just got a 7% raise, total. Almost 20% in two years.”

“Let’s get decent pay and let’s get this contract settled,” she added.

Antioch High French teacher Sara Svacool, Political Chair of Antioch Education Association, continued her efforts on the issue of substitute teachers, that she spoke about at length, at the previous board meeting, saying they’ve “got the ball rolling.”

“Thank you for passing on my message with regards to substitutes,” she told the board.

Synitha Walker shared her concerns about challenges with college application of high school students in the district.

“Transcripts of our students are incorrect,” she stated. “They’re not updating their GPA when classes affecting the college application process.”

“They need to be aware they need to send their transcripts from the colleges where they’ve taken classes,” Board President Claire Smith responded.

“They’re doing that,” Walker replied.

Board Actions

The board chose not to vote to endorse the proposed “Funding Kindergarten Through Community College Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2016” after Julie Young questioned the need for it.

“Do we need to have more taxes in Antioch?” she asked. “I’m certainly done.”

In a vote that should help alleviate the concerns of not enough teachers, the board voted 4-0-1, with Navarro abstaining, to approve a Provisional Intern Permit. That allowed the hiring of someone obtaining their credential by next May, for one classroom at Jack London Elementary, to replace a teacher who left.

“I don’t want to just rubber stamp the vote,” Navarro stated as his reason for abstaining.

Smith said she had told him it would be acceptable to not vote on issues that night, as he just took his seat on the board, earlier that afternoon.

“But, next meeting, he needs to be ready,” she added with a smile.

The Antioch Unified School District Board of Education meets twice a month, usually the second and fourth Wednesdays, at 7:00 p.m. at the School Services Building, 510 G Street, Antioch. For more information visit www.antioch.k12.ca.us.

Data from educational justice group shows that charters are pivotal in helping students overcome the barriers of poverty 

SACRAMENTO – A list released in October, 2015, of the highest performing schools for low-income students across California, released by the non-partisan research and advocacy group Education-Trust West, reveals that the majority are charter public schools. This is the latest data affirming that charter schools are pivotal in helping students overcome the barriers of poverty.

“It is crucial that California celebrates and learns from the schools that are yielding the strongest results for those students with the greatest needs,” says Myrna Castrejon, acting CEO of the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA). “We are thrilled to see that so many of these schools are charters. Clearly charters are fulfilling their mission of helping historically under-served students get the education they deserve, and we will continue to support our charter schools and ensure they continue to help students in poverty excel.”

The new Ed Trust-West data highlights the “top 10 highest performing schools for low-income 3rd, 8th and 11th grade students” in California. In 3rd and 11th grade, five of the top ten are charter schools. In 8th grade, seven of the top ten are charters.

“This data helps explain why there are more than 150,000 students, many of them living in poverty, on charter school wait lists throughout California,” says Castrejon. “These students and their families recognize that in many cases charters are their best hope for success. As legislators and school boards seek to provide their communities with the best possible schools, this data speaks loud and clear: charters are a big part of the solution.”

The new data from the Education Trust-West is available here:

https://west.edtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/10/CAASPP-Equity-Alert-2015-OCTOBER.pdf

The California Charter Schools Association’s vision is to increase student learning by growing the number of families choosing high quality charter public schools so that no child is denied the right to a great public education. Our mission is to ensure a million students attend charter public schools by 2022, with charter public schools outperforming non-charter public schools on every measure. We do this by serving as the advocacy organization that builds the policy environment needed to grow as quickly as possible the number of students attending high quality charter public schools. For more information, please visit our website at www.ccsa.org.

Antioch middle and high school students can win prize money in the 2016 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Program. Open to middle and high school students who reside in the Antioch Unified School District (AUSD) boundaries, this year’s contest theme is  “If I Were President of the United States.” Judges will be looking for work that best represents Dr. King’s vision and incorporates the 2016 theme.  Application deadline is January 7, 2016. Submissions may be written or visual.

Written submissions may be a poem or essay, short story, etc. Visual entries may be a story told through video, photographs, music, drawings, paintings, collages, etc., and must incorporate 2016 theme.

Winners will be announced and scholarship awards will be presented at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Event on January 18, 2016, from 1 – 3 PM at Deer Valley High School. Scholarship Awards levels are: High School: 1st Place $400, 2nd Place $200, 3rd Place $150 and Middle School: 1st Place $200, 2nd Place $150, 3rd Place $100.

Submission Requirements: The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Program is to open middle and high school students who reside in the Antioch Unified School District boundaries. Application submission deadline is Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 4 PM. Applications and submissions must be received by that date. No late submissions accepted.   It is important that you include your contact information.

Written submissions may be submitted at Antioch City Hall or sent by email to Diane@Art4Antioch.org.  Visual electronic media needs to be submitted on a CD or DVD and 3-D art (posters, drawings, paintings, collages, etc.) must include the student’s name, school, grade and contact information on the back of the visual entry and submitted at Antioch City Hall, 200 H Street, 3rd Floor, Attention: Y’Keyah Johnson. Write on the envelope or package “MLK Scholarship” and your name, school, phone number and email address. Please check the city website for holidays and open to the public hours.

All submissions must include the student’s name, school, grade and contact information on the top of the electronic document or included in the email message. Submissions become the property of the MLK Scholarship Committee and will not be returned. For questions regarding the scholarship contact Diane Gibson-Gray at Diane@Art4antioch.org or (925) 325-9897.

 

By Allen Payton

Antioch businessman Fernando Navarro took his oath of office, Wednesday to become the newest member of the Antioch School Board. During a special afternoon session at which his parents and brother were in attendance. but not his wife and children, Navarro was sworn in formally by Board President Claire Smith.

“We’ll have a ceremonial oath of office in January when his family can be in attendance,” said Smith.

“They’re on their way to Guadalajara for Christmas,” Navarro shared referring to his family.

“We’d like to officially welcome Fernando,” Smith stated.

“It will be a fun ride, maybe,” she added with laughter.

The meeting was held at 4:00 p.m., so that Navarro could participate in a closed session meeting with Interim Superintendent Stephanie Anello, which was on the agenda as a “Public Employee Performance Evaluation: Interim Superintendent.”

However, in an email from Smith in response to questions about the meeting, she stated that it was not an evaluation. Following is the email exchange on the subject:

Antioch Herald – Why is Fernando Navarro being sworn in at 4 p.m. when most members of the public cannot attend?

Smith – “In order for him to participate in closed session and get all the information he must be sworn in first.”

AH – I assume it’s so he can participate in the Performance Evaluation of Interim Superintendent Anello. If so, that begs the question how could he evaluate her performance when he’s taking office that day?

Smith – “It is not  ‘a performance evaluation.’ Obviously, she has not been working in the position long enough to have an evaluation. However, the board does need to discuss with her what we expect of her performance.”

AH – Do you really expect the early Closed Session to last almost 3 hours?

Smith – “Yes, I do anticipate the closed session to last 3 hours. That is not uncommon.  Look at past agendas.”

AH – The agenda states “Public Employee Performance Evaluation…”  So, if it isn’t one, perhaps that should be relabeled as to what it truly is, a meeting to discuss guidance and direction of what the Board expects the Interim Superintendent to do. That being the case, why must that be done in closed session?

Smith – “Because it is still considered a personnel issue. An Employee will be discussed. Superintendents evaluations are never done in public. In past years, this discussion took place off site and lasted sometimes 5-6 hours.”

The closed session with Anello was held as scheduled, following Navarro’s oath of office ceremony, but nothing was reported out after it was finished, and before the regular meeting began at 7:00 p.m.

The nationally recognized Capital Fellows Programs administered by the Center for California Studies at California State University, Sacramento, announces the availability of applications for the Capital Fellows Programs:

·         California Senate Fellows

·         Executive Fellowship Program

·         Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship Program

·         Judicial Administration Fellowship Program

Voted as one of the top internships nationwide by Vault.com, the Capital Fellows Programs are ranked highly for their combination of meaningful work experience and career opportunities. These fellowships offer the unique opportunity to work for 10-11 months as a full-time paid staff member in the California State Assembly, California State Senate, California Executive Branch or the California Judiciary. Fellows participate in policy making, program development and implementation and gain first-hand experience in the governance and leadership of the most diverse, complex state in the nation.

Prospective Capital Fellows must have a bachelor’s degree (in any major) by September 1, 2016 and a demonstrated interest in state government and public service. Applicants may apply to one or more of the programs that meet their interests and qualifications. Recent graduates, graduate, postgraduate and mid-career applicants are welcome to apply.

For detailed information about the fellowships and applications, please see our website, www.csus.edu/calst/programs.

The application deadline for all four fellowships is: February 8, 2016.

If you have questions regarding the Capital Fellows Programs, please contact the Center for California Studies at (916) 278-6906 or calstudies@csus.edu.