TUSD Weekly Update
"Every kid is just one caring adult away from being a success story." ~Josh Shipp
Equity in TUSD
Heidi Lawler, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services
TUSD continues to develop plans and take action to create opportunities for students and staff in an environment of inclusivity with a goal of all meeting their full potential. Over the course of the last year, our newly formed Equity Task Force met regularly to identify areas of needs with regard to specific student populations and determine next steps for the 2018-19 school year which included training, communication, and support for struggling students as identified by attendance, discipline, and achievement data.

On August 29, TUSD’s Equity Task Force and site principals participated in an “Unconscious Bias” training overview presented by California Teachers Association’s Human Rights division staff members, Lisa Adams and Donnell Jordan. Participants had the opportunity to reflect on their own biases and consider how these impacted their perceptions and relationships with others, including students and families. The presenters were excellent and all feedback extremely positive. The Equity Task Force, which includes diverse representation across TUSD, will discuss options for sharing this powerful training at its next meeting, scheduled for September 19.

Additionally, on August 21, the Board of Trustees approved a new Board Policy, BP 0415, Equity, which systematically addresses the need to provide an inclusive environment that values diversity throughout our District. The new policy is in alignment with our recent work and focus, including Opening Doors for More and All Means ALL
Induction 411
Denise Duewell, Coordinator of Induction and Professional Development
New year, new teachers, new students . . . oh my! As the 2018-19 school year begins, so does the TUSD Induction Program. We are moving forward encouraging growth in our new teachers by providing them the necessary support to become successful teachers and to clear their credentials. We do that through mentor support and general support. In fact, studies show that having a knowledgeable, skillful, and supportive mentor is the leading reason new teachers remain with a school district.

With that in mind, the week of August 20th was dedicated to our mentors. We began with general requirements like making time for mentees and arranging observations for them and ended with the importance of pausing and paraphrasing to facilitate true listening. Such training will continue throughout the year.

Last week we had our first meeting with our new teachers to introduce the state and local requirements of induction. We will next move to the importance of consistent routines and procedures to establish strong classroom management. Additionally, second year teachers will present some of their take-aways from last year to enhance the experience for our year one teachers. Finally, because we know examining our practice is the foundation for a successful teaching career, the induction program will continue to teach and encourage reflection in our new teachers. 2018-19 is destined to be an outstanding year!
Blankets of Love
Blankets of Love is in its 3rd year at Pitman High school but is not new. Science teacher and coach, Tim McCabe, who was involved with Blankets of Love in Southern California where it was started at an elementary school site in the Charter Oak Unified School District. The founder, Suzie Gallegos had a dream of providing colorful blankets to kids fighting for their lives in hospitals, where the atmosphere was mostly sterile and drab. When Mr. McCabe moved to Turlock and began teaching at Pitman, he pitched the idea to his students, and they ran with it.

Every year Pitman students recruit elementary school classrooms and raise money on their own to buy the material to make the blankets. Last year over a mile of fleece was purchased. They create, wash, dry, and include a hand written note, picture, or some other memento that hospital staff can give to children in the hospital. The goal is to provide community service while also giving some hope and peace to those that receive the blankets, both kids AND parents. Countless letters have been returned over the years to the Blankets of Love program about how it has affected those involved. It is heartbreaking to read the letters of survival and sometimes loss but always thankfulness that someone took the time to provide a blanket and a note for someone they don’t even know...their child.

Last year, Blankets of Love at Pitman made over 50 blankets and they were delivered to the Merced Children’s Center and Madera Children's Hospital. The staff were overwhelmed and excited, to the point of tears, to give these blankets to so many deserving kids. This year there is a new Blankets of Love President, Claudine Ushana, and she is excited and determined to lead the club to make even more blankets this year. Please email Tim McCabe at tmccabe@turlock.k12.ca.us if you want more information or have questions about how you can support this worthy program!
Tech in TUSD
Marshall Beyer, Ed Tech Coach
Join the Tech in TUSD Remind Group! Do you wish there was a way to receive updates on some great edtech tools, news, tips, and tricks that you can use in your classroom? Would you like to have those updates sent directly to you? Then sign up for the tech in TUSD Remind Group! When you sign up for the Tech In TUSD Remind Group, updates will be sent directly to your phone! This can be via push notification through the Remind app or via text message. Don’t want it sent to your phone? The updates can come as an email instead. It is up to you!
Focus on a Photographer
Francisco Madrid is a junior and a second year photographer at Turlock High School, though his interest in photography started even earlier. “For a few years I have been obsessed with taking pictures and being able to express my artistic ability,” Francisco shared with his teacher Amber Elstad. Francisco sees photography in his future, and would love to either do freelance work or shoot photos for a magazine. Francisco’s photography has already been featured at multiple shows and venues, including the Stanislaus County Office of Education, the Turlock Public Library, and the Mistlin Gallery in Modesto. According to Francisco, “my style varies but I gravitate more toward nature; my objective when taking pictures is to try and capture the subject in its most natural form.” Francisco’s advice to his peers and new photographers? “Pursue your dream and never give up until you have it.”
Catching Up with . . . Ben Ewing
What year did you graduate? 2011

What schools did you attend in TUSD? Osborn (as part of the immersion program), Dutcher Middle School, and Turlock High School.

What schools did you attend after high school? Major? I attended the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) for my undergraduate study, where I earned a combined degree in Economics and Mathematics. I have just started at Duke University as part of the Masters in Economics and Computation program which pairs graduate level economics and computer science courses and research.

What are your career goals? Prior to starting at Duke, I was working at a firm as a consultant on several  U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)   projects researching the impacts of various programs on land security. I also had the opportunity to present some independent research on the interactions between elections and perceptions of land security at the World Bank Land and Poverty Conference, and this coming weekend the American Political Science Association annual meeting. While at Duke I'd like to take some time to explore other career opportunities apart from the work I was doing previously, though I'm not sure what that would look like. Broadly speaking, I'd like to find work that is intellectually satisfying and publicly beneficial.

What teachers/classes made an impact on you? There are so many great teachers at TUSD, I will almost definitely miss some:

  • Randy Huth's Honors and AP English classes helped prepare me for the level of work required to succeed at a college level. These classes also made me a much better writer, though I think I have plenty of room for growth!
  • In cross country JoAnn Davison taught me how to work hard and to focus on my improving myself instead of comparing myself to others.
  • Mary Asgill's AP English class taught me how to read critically and ask what an author wanted from me.
  • In AP Statistics, Ken Donaldson showed me how math could be used to investigate interesting problems.
  • In AP Spanish, Jennifer Garcia introduced me to the intersections of language, literature, culture, and politics.
  • In Speech and Debate, Michele VanNieuwenhuyzen taught me how to speak persuasively and research a problem (i.e. a debate prompt) and break it down to its key points. I think this class also taught me how to work and communicate effectively with others.

My parents, Ed and Stacy Ewing, are both lifelong educators (at TUSD and CUSD). In addition to keeping me alive, they taught me the value of family, empathy, education, travel, reading books and reading all of the displays found in museums and near trail markers, and likely so much more than I even realize.

Any advice for students?
  1. Do the work. While you do it, try to understand what you're actually doing, and why the work was assigned.
  2. Look for something that interests you in every course you take. For example, if you are interested in video games, but uninterested in geometry, spend some time thinking about the math that may underpin whatever game you happen to be playing.
  3. Ask for help, but try to know what you don't know first. Try to bring a specific problem or example that you are struggling with.
  4. Sometimes a class just isn't well taught. If that is truly the case, seek out others who might be able to help you, whether they be other students, other teachers, or parents. Try and make the best of a bad situation, though maybe not at the expense of other classes.
  5. Don't accept failure. If others have passed a class, chances are you can too.

Hobbies? Things your enjoy in your spare time?
I enjoy running, cycling, cooking, and reading (Currently: Liu Cixin's  The Three-Body Problem ).

Congratulations to Ben and Emily who were recently married in June!
School Spotlight: Dutcher
We’re visiting Dutcher Middle School today! Here are some facts about their school: ✅ Est. 1996 as Dutcher Elementary School, changed to a middle school in 1999 ✅ Principal: Scott Lucas ✅ Assistant Principal: Agustin Arreola ✅ Dean: Laura Torres-Rogers ✅ 41 Teachers ✅ 67 Classified Staff ✅ 820 Students ✅ Mascot: ✅ Diamondback ✅ Fun Fact: In 2016, 6th grade two-way immersion students joined the DMS campus to make it a true middle school. Have a great year Diamondbacks! 

Dutcher Middle School’s 6th grade Professional Learning Community met to review the results of a R.A.C.E. pre-assessment they administered to students last week to gauge their reading and writing skills. Today’s collaboration meeting focused on creating a common scoring rubric for this assessment. Next, the team will use the information from assessment to plan instruction as well as determine which students need intervention or enrichment . . . and then the learning cycle will start again! 
The US in TUSD
Meet Sara Smith
How long have you worked in TUSD?  I have worked in TUSD since 2001. I started teaching Language! at Turlock High School, then transferred to Pitman High School in 2002.
 
What is your job title? I currently teach Honors English 9, English 11, and AP 12
 
Where did you work prior to TUSD?  I taught English for two years in Gustine, at Gustine High School.
 
Any info you would like to share about your job? Average day? My days go fast...I wish I could spend more time with each one of my students. I enjoy the challenge of teaching English, and I like that each day is never "average" - there's always something new to either learn or teach.

Things you are most proud of? Right now, I am most proud to be able to say I am in year 20 of teaching, and I still love it as much, if not more, than I did years ago. I'm also proud of my children. They are getting older, and I can see glimpses of the adults that the two older ones are becoming. It's a fascinating experience.

Challenges? My biggest challenge is having enough time for all the kids in my life. I can get pretty emotionally involved with my students, and sometimes it's hard to find that emotional support needed for home. Another challenge I have seen grow over the past 20 years is the lack of accountability from students, but mostly parents. We, as adults and parents, need to make sure our children are supported. Part of that support needs to be the confidence to "figure it out" for lack of a better phrase. I have seen so many students head off to college academically prepared, but not emotionally or mentally. We need to make sure we teach our students to be accountable.

Favorite memory/story? Hmm, where to begin? There's so many. I love all the funny things teenagers say. To be honest, my favorite stories are from the students that I continue to keep in contact with. I love to see them grow and mature. A student from my second year of teaching had a career goal of becoming a graphic designer. He not only became one, but he is part of a design company in San Francisco. Thanks to Instagram, I can see the fruits of his success! A funny comment I just received last week was: "You're like the Great Value version of my teacher from last year!" I decided to take it as a compliment, as Great Value, the generic Wal-Mart brand, can be accessible by the masses, not just the "brand-buying" people!
 
What are you reading? I am currently reading a book called A Visit from the Goon Squad , by Jennifer Egan. It is a book with shifting POVs of characters that are all connected in some way. There is an underlying thread of rock and roll trivia and history that connects each character.

Any favorite shows you’re watching on TV? My youngest son and I are watching Lost in Space . My daughter and I watch Friends . All four of us watch Big Brother (total guilty pleasure). Our last favorite show, Timeless , was canceled. I am looking forward to the season premiere of This Is Us , which I watch by myself so I can ugly cry.

Anything surprising we may not know about you? My eighth grade English teacher was none other than Dana Salles Trevethan, our Superintendent. I have great memories of her classroom and teaching style.

Any personal stuff you’d like to share? In my time outside of school, I love to spend time with my children, Eli (15), Tabitha (13), and Sam (9). We like to go on day trips; our next one is a pilgrimage to the "Full House" house for my daughter. I love to read, socialize with friends, and basically just enjoy life. 
The 411
Seen on Social Media
Osborn PTA Facebook | ¡Muchas gracias a las madres de Osborn por limpiar y organizar nuestro armario de ropa!

Thank you very much Osborn mothers for cleaning out and organizing our clothes closet!

#OsbornPTA #OsbornTwoWayImmersion #LaAcademiaDeDobleInmersión .
📷: Violet Irasava
Share Your Awesome!

Marie Russell
Chief Communication Coordinator
mrussell@turlock.k12.ca.us
209.648.0968
@tusd_mrussell

We would love to have ALL staff help share our TUSD story to the world, but if that is not really your thing, just click on link below to download an opt-out form and return to "Marie Russell, D.O." via district mail.