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Contra Costa County Office of Education April  2015
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Greetings!

 

Welcome to the April 2015 issue of  Dateline. This informative newsletter is for all those in Contra Costa County who work in education. Please tell your fellow teachers and administrators, as well as your friends who would be interested in joining our mailing list ( click here, or the link button at the left column). 

Professional Development / Opportunities

Contra Costa County Teacher/Certificated Staff Recruitment Fair


Discover teaching positions in a variety of fields, including: All levels of K-12 education; specialty; and substitute teaching positions.

Date and location: April 11, 9:00 a.m.- Noon; Pittsburg High School (Gymnasium), 1750 Harbor Street, Pittsburg

For info: Contact (925) 942-3387 or visit their Web page

Fee: Free

Administrative  Leadership Program (ALP) 

Contra Costa County Office of Education is a local program affiliate with the Association of California School Administrators and the New Teacher Center that offers an alternative program for the Professional Clear Administrative Services Credential. The ALP provides two years of on-site individualized coaching by certified Leadership Coaches to beginning school administrators. Driven by the California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders, candidates create an individualized plan for demonstrating performance standards that will determine the focus for coaching. At the end of two years, candidates who successfully complete all program requirements will be recommended for the Tier II Professional Clear Administrative Services Credential. 

For info: Contact Marsha Tokuyoshi at (925) 942-3385, or visit the program's Web page

Dates: TBD over a two-year time frame

Fee$3,500 per year CCCOE-ALP for 2 years, plus $1,000** per year to ACSA/ACCP; total cost for the two-year program is $9,000

AB1575 - Student Fees & Williams Training

Join us as we explore how California law requires that public education be provided to students free of charge, unless a charge is specifically authorized by law for a particular program or activity. Melanie D. Seymour is an associate with Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost LLP. Ms. Seymour's practice touches upon myriad legal issues relating to students and special education. She advises school districts, county offices of education and special education local plan areas statewide regarding all aspects of special education law.

Date and location: April 11, 9:00 a.m.-Noon; CCCOE, Pleasant Hill

For info: Contact Laura Griffin at (925) 942-5358 visit their Web page

Fee: $15

Deadline: April 8

Leading Edge Certification for the Online and Blended Teacher

Are you interested in teaching online, but unsure where to start, or are you already teaching online and want to enhance your skills? The Leading Edge Alliance and a group of county offices of education, nonprofits, universities, and governmental bodies have developed a certification program for K-12 teachers. The certification is a national program to prepare instructional leaders for online learning. Content includes building community, moderating discussions, supporting diverse learners, and implementing frequent formative assessments.

Dates: One eight-week cohort will be offered, starting April 20, (One synchronous meeting on the first day and 45-60 hours online training)

For info: Contact Eileen C. Walters at (925) 942-3435, or visit the program's website

Fee: $450, includes course, as well as portfolio review and certification

The 20th Annual Distinguished Speaker Series

 - The Best Practices in Teaching Leadership

The Best Practices in Teaching Leadership Saturday Seminar Series provides a broad range of opportunities for professional educators to learn research-based techniques and strategies from local and national professionals. Keynote and breakout sessions cover a variety of topics and grade levels, and provide practical and purposeful tools for both general and special educators to improve teaching practice. Networking opportunities with educators from other schools and districts are another key benefit. The program meets BTSA Induction professional development requirement. Graduate academic credit or continuing education units may also be earned. 

Date and location: May 2, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Saint Mary's College, Moraga

For info: Contact Jeannie Harberson at 925-631-4836, or visit their

website

Fee: $65 for individual sessions (academic credit available)

iLead

Join us for a 30 minute webinar on relevant ed tech topics.

Use your iPad to share great apps, jazz up your staff meetings and model uses to support the Common Core.

Date: April 21, 9:00-9:30 a.m.
For info and registration: Visit their Web page

Be On the Leading Edge

In this 30-minute webinar, you will learn about a program utilizing tech tools for innovative leaders such as yourself, LeadingEdge Certification for Administrators.

Date: May 19, 9:00-9:30 a.m.

For info and registration: Visit their Web page

QR Codes for Open House and More!

Using QR codes to showcase student work, share book reviews and engage students in scavenger hunts. The possibilities are endless. This is a 30-minute webinar.

Date: June 2, 19, 4:00-4:30 p.m.

For info and registration: Visit their Web page

Upcoming Events / Field Trips

Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society
The Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society will gladly organize an astronomy night for your school, youth group, or community organization. The organization's members volunteer their time and their telescopes to bring the universe to you. They also provide knowledgeable speakers and activities on various astronomy topics, either in a classroom or in a meeting setting.

For info: Contact Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society by email or visit their website

Fee: Free

Federal Glover's 2015 Youth Summit
This year's Youth Summit theme is It Starts With Us! The program is focused on creating an environment that empowers students (7th-12th grades) to step up and take personal responsibility over their education and success. This is achieved by providing a variety of workshops that empower our youth to take their personal development to the next level. Workshops include life skills, motivation, health & fitness, career building, and many more.

Date and location: May 9, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. ; Pittsburg High School, Pittsburg

For info: Contact Holland White at (925) 335-8200 or visit their Web page

Fee: Free

Grants / Scholarships

Toshiba America Foundation

The Toshiba America Foundation is currently accepting applications from teachers who are passionate about making science and mathematics more engaging for their students.  Do you teach grades 6-12 science or math?  Do you have a wish list of instructional equipment that will make learning more exciting for your students?  If the answer is yes to these questions, Toshiba America Foundation would like to hear from you. Grades 6-12 applications for $5,000 or less are accepted on a rolling basis, throughout the calendar year. Grant requests of more than $5,000 are reviewed twice a year. 

For info: Contact (212) 596-0620 or email, or visit their website

Deadlines: Applications for grants of more than $5,000 are due August 1st and February 1st each year.

The Warren W. Eukel Teacher Trust Fund 
The Warren W. Eukel Teacher Trust Fund annually distributes three separate $10,000 grants to outstanding teachers. The Trust will select nominees who exhibit extraordinary commitment of personal time and energy on behalf of their students. Teachers can self-nominate, or be nominated by an administrator, colleague, or student. The award may be used in any manner the recipient wishes.

For info: Contact Peggy Toovey at (925) 945-0200 or visit their website

Deadline: May 15

Voya Unsung Heroes Awards Program 

For more than 15 years, and with nearly $4 million in awarded grants, Voya Unsung Heroes has proven to be an A+ program with educators. The program's "alumni" have inspired success in the classroom and impacted countless numbers of students. Each year, 100 educators are selected to receive $2,000 to help fund their innovative class projects. Three of those are chosen to receive the top awards of an additional $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000.

For info: Visit their website

Deadline: April 30

Resources / Contests

Contra Costa Community Warning System
The Contra Costa County Community Warning System (CWS) is a comprehensive system designed to alert the public in the county of imminent threats to life or health. The system was developed by the Community Awareness and Emergency Response organization (CAER) and is operated by the Office the of Sheriff.  The CWS mission is to alert the public of imminent threats to life or health, inform the public of basic hazard information and guide them to resources to gather more detailed information.  The CWS uses a variety of tools to reach the public as quickly and reliably as possible such as:
  • Telephone notification (cell and landline)
  • Email
  • Texting
  • Social Media (Facebook and Twitter)
  • Sirens
  • Radio and TV
  • NOAA Weather Radios
  • Cable Television
For info: Contact the CWS Staff at (925) 313-9622 or visit their website
Google Science Fair

This online science competition is open to young people aged 13 to 18 from around the world - working as an individual or in a team of up to 3. It offers students the chance to explore an area of science that they're passionate about - and be in with a chance of winning life-changing prizes

For info: To sign up for fun and free resource kits for your classroom or school, visit their website

Deadline: May 12

Fee: Free

KidsGardening.com

KidsGardening.com is a website that has plenty of ideas about plants and gardens, teacher resources, and grant opportunities. 


CCCOE Logo

 

77 Santa  Barbara Road, Pleasant Hill, California 94523

Follow us on Twitter: @cocoschools 

Karen Sakata, Superintendent of Schools

Editor: Terry Koehne; Writer/Layout: Jonathan Lance, (925) 942-3429;

Diane Morrell, Designer; June Stephens, Web Developer 

 

Dateline is distributed during the school year to all public schools in the county by the Communications Office. Information must be received by the first of the preceding month. Publication does not signify the Contra Costa County Office of Education endorses the event or program mentioned.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jonathan Lance

CCCOE