WelcoHHav

SCCSBA President's Message

By Carol Presunka (Cambrian SD)

Welcome back for the 2024-2025 school year! Hopefully you had some rest and relaxation and are ready to take on this year’s challenges. 

In talking to Board Members, I’ve realized there is some confusion as to the role of the Santa Clara County School Board Association so I thought I’d give a brief recap of what it’s all about. First we are one of the largest county CSBA organizations and have the only stipended employee in Bonnie Mace our Executive Director. Our primary role is providing information of interest to Board members and advocating on behalf of SCC school districts. 

Each district (of which there are 31 in SCC) has a representative that has voting rights. However all board members are welcome to attend our meetings, as well as superintendents. 

We have one evening zoom meeting in the months of September, November, January, February and March. Most of these meetings will have an update from Dr. Dewan, the County Superintendent of Schools with a Q&A to follow. There is a topical presentation and of course some business.

Not all months are business meetings. There is a fall dinner in October with a presentation but also an opportunity to meet and mingle with fellow board members from other districts. In May we have the Hoffmann Awards dinner where we recognize excellence in education in Santa Clara County. There is also the legislative Breakfast in March where elected officials from all levels of government are invited to come and talk to our members. We usually have at least 20 elected representatives attend and it gives everyone an opportunity to have their voices heard. In most years, we have also had a presentation from the State Board of Education President.

A few years ago the Legislative Action Committee (LAC) was formed by some interested Board members who felt our local elected officials needed to hear from Santa Clara County education representatives. There have been letters of support on potential legislation as well as meetings with individual representatives at least twice a year.

With school districts experiencing a large rise in unhoused students, last year another group of Board members created an unhoused students subcommittee. 

We also have delegates who meet with the state CSBA. They are nominated and elected by school districts. There are delegates at large who represent specific subgroups such as Asian Pacific Islanders. Hispanic and Black.  

All these committees are run by volunteer school board members. At the end of each calendar year new members are voted in or asked to join. If you are interested in joining you can reach out to the committee Chairs for future consideration. Each committee provides updates at our evening SCCSBA zoom meetings.

We also have networking lunches a few times a year to just get to know each other and share information. Last year we also started monthly Zoom Lunch and Learns which are a more informal discussion of topics of interest to Board members. There is a specific topic with a conversation starter and then it is open to everyone for questions or comments. It is back by popular demand! I’ve learned a lot from them! 

Saturday, September 14 - SCCSBA Back to School Breakfast

Come and join us for an informal no-host Back to School Breakfast on Saturday, September 14 at Bill's Cafe on the Alameda (2089 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126). This is your chance to say hello to fellow board members across the county. The breakfast will be held from 8-9:30 AM. All trustees are invited!

Wednesday, September 25 - SCCSBA Evening Zoom Meeting on Student Wellness

Our first evening Zoom meeting of the new school year will be held on September 25, and will feature the topic of Student Wellness. All trustees are invited to attend. We look forward to seeing you there! Check your email inbox for the zoom link. The meeting will run from 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, November 6 - SCCSBA Evening Zoom Meeting on AI

All trustees are invited to our November 6 Zoom evening meeting, which will feature an in-depth discussion of Artificial Intelligence and Schools. We will have CSBA staff representatives who will be sharing the work CSBA is doing in AI policies, board resolutions, advocacy, legal concerns and what’s happening across the state. The meeting will run from 7:00-8:30 p.m.

SCCSBA 2024-25 Event Calendar

Saturday, September 14 - SCCSBA Back to School Breakfast, 8:00-9:30 AM, Bill's Cafe on the Alameda

Wednesday, September 25 - SCCSBA Evening Zoom Meeting on Student Wellness, 7:00-8:30 PM

Friday, October 4 - SCCSBA Networking Lunch at Country Gourmet, 11:30 AM-1:00 PM

Monday, October 21- SCCOE Teacher Recognition Celebration, 6:00-8:00 PM, Campbell Heritage Theater

Wednesday, October 23 - SCCSBA Fall Dinner, 6:00-9:00 PM, Maggianos Restaurant in San Jose

Friday, November 1 - SCCSBA Networking Lunch at OPA!, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Wednesday, November 6 - SCCSBA Evening Zoom Meeting on AI, 7:00-8:30 PM

Thursday-Saturday, December 5-7 - CSBA Annual Education Conference in Anaheim

Saturday, January 25 - New Board Member Training, 9:00-11:00 AM, SCCOE

Wednesday, January 22 - SCCSBA Evening Zoom Meeting, 7:00-8:30 PM

Wednesday, February 26 - SCCSBA Evening Zoom Meeting, 7:00-8:30 PM

Friday, March 14 - SCCSBA Networking Lunch at Aqui, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Saturday, March 8 - SCCSBA Legislative Brunch, 8:30 AM to Noon, FUHSD Board Room

Wednesday, March 26 - SCCSBA Evening Zoom Meeting, 7:00-8:30 PM

Friday, April 4 - SCCSBA Networking Lunch, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Country Gourmet

Wednesday, May 7 - SCCSBA Hoffmann Awards Dinner, 6:00-9:00 PM, MetroED

Wednesday, May 28 - SCCSBA Officer, District Reps and Delegates Dinner, 6:00-8:00 PM

ZOOM LINKS AND ADDRESS INFORMATION WILL BE SENT TO YOUR EMAIL.

CSBA Spotlight (csba.org)

Grow-your-own programs can aid in teacher recruitment, but LEAs must be realistic about limitations

Grow-your-own (GYO) programs have the potential to solve multiple teacher workforce challenges by increasing local teacher supply, reducing teacher shortages, promoting teacher diversity and improving teacher retention and effectiveness, according to a recent analysis from the Brookings Institution.

However, researchers noted, these programs may not be enough to retain diverse and effective teacher workforce without improvements to the overall state of the teaching profession.

“Efforts that aim to increase the teacher supply without improving the state of the profession may not be enough to retain a diverse and effective workforce. Like other teachers, GYO participants may confront stagnant wages, a lack of autonomy, challenging working conditions, and the looming threat of teacher layoffs that cause them to leave the classroom or deter them from entering in the first place,” researchers wrote. “This can perpetuate the revolving door of teachers and the need to constantly recruit teacher candidates.”

Despite the benefits, researchers also noted that the impacts of grow-your-own programs take years to materialize. “High school GYO participants, the most common participant type, will need to complete high school and college before entering the profession,” they stated.

Still, there’s a lot to like about these programs, and good reasons to promote them, researchers said.

For the most part, GYO programs vary widely in terms of target populations and program features, with many focusing on recruiting high school students, and others focusing on adults such as paraprofessionals, college students and community members.

Some initiatives “include scholarships to earn bachelor’s degrees or certification, alternate or accelerated pathways to enrollment in a traditional or alternative certification program, community college transfer programs, extracurricular activities, high school coursework, dual enrollment programs and teacher residencies” — leading to significant variety among programs.

Only two common characteristics emerged across GYO programs researchers looked at: They seek to expand the teacher supply and they recruit applicants who live, work or attend a school within particular school communities.

Such a variety provides local educational agencies the flexibility to tailor programs to meet their local needs, according to researchers.

Read the report here.

Santa Clara County Office of Education Spotlight

Santa Clara County School Districts and County Office of Education Receive National Honor for Communications

Local school communicators throughout Santa Clara County received multiple awards from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) for exemplary work in communications. The awards celebration held on Sunday, July 14 highlighted efforts to engage school communities in programs and initiatives that benefit students. 

“School communicators showcase the transformative effects of investments in public education,” said Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, County Superintendent of Schools. “I greatly appreciate their contributions and am thrilled to see their achievements acknowledged. They are invaluable assets to our school communities.”

NSPRA promotes the development of professionals to communicate strategically, build trust and foster positive relationships in support of school communities. The Los Gatos Union School District, Santa Clara County Office of Education, and Santa Clara Unified School District were awarded. Additionally, Karen Briones, the Communications Coordinator from the Los Gatos Union School District, was recognized for earning an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR). An APR certifies a public relations professional. This accreditation is internationally recognized.

NSPRA’s awards program recognizes superior achievement in meeting strategic goals through high-quality communications and public relations programs. Applications are received from school communicators representing school districts and county offices nationwide. To view the winning entries, visit https://www.nspra.org/Awards/Award-Winners 

Santa Clara Unified School District

Santa Clara Unified School District was excited to welcome all our staff on August 9 (check out our highlight reel!). It was an amazing morning! We heard from one of our students about what has unlocked her potential while here at SCUSD and heard an inspiring keynote from Dr. Jeff Duncan-Andrade. 

We look forward to welcoming all students on Tuesday, August 13! Follow along on our socials using #scusdfirstday! Also, learn more about and consider joining our One Million Acts of Kindness campaign - the whole community is welcome! We're up to 33,000. 

Milpitas Unified School District

Trustee Chris Norwood appointed to CSBA Delegate Assembly Governance Review Committee

Milpitas Unified School District Senior Board Member Chris Norwood was recently appointed to the California School Boards Association’s (CSBA) Delegate Assembly Governance Review Committee.

Norwood, a Milpitas HS alumnus and the 2020 CSBA State Board Member of the Year, will serve a one-year term on the committee and, as a member, will evaluate how Delegate Assembly seats are allocated and review diversity of representation, engagement of Delegates and channels of communication. The intent is to improve communication, engagement, representation and diversity in leadership of CSBA. The findings of the committee’s evaluation will culminate in a report to the Board of Directors.

“CSBA is widely recognized across the state as the leading provider of essential support and resources to school boards to ensure effective governance and student success,” shares Trustee Norwood. “I look forward to bringing the voice of Milpitas Unified, Santa Clara County, and working with my colleagues across the state to ensure CSBA Delegate Assembly leadership engagement, representation, and communication align with CSBA’s advocacy for high-quality education for all students in California.”



MetroED

MetroED Shines: Summer Brings National Wins, Global Connections, and Hands-On Learning

This summer, Metropolitan Education District’s (MetroED) Silicon Valley Career Technical Education (SVCTE) center program demonstrated its commitment to excellence, innovation, and global engagement through a series of remarkable achievements. From students showcasing their skills during national competitions to hosting visitors from New Taipei, and offering a CTE Summer Exploration program, the season was marked with many activities and collaboration. These stories not only highlight the talents and dedication of our students and staff but also reinforce MetroED's role as a leader in career and technical education, fostering opportunities both locally and globally.

SVCTE’s Summer Exploration Program Inspires Future Career Paths: Ninety-one incoming ninth through 12th-grade students soaked up an educational journey of growth and discovery during SVCTE’s Summer Exploration Program, which ran for four weeks. Read more

SVCTE Welcomes Students from New Taipei City for Summer Exploration Program: Twenty students from SVCTE’s New Taipei delegation recently traveled across the globe to participate in a week of the CTE Summer Exploration program. These students engaged in various hands-on learning experiences in fields such as Fashion Design & Textile Art, Medical Assisting, Sports Medicine & Kinesiology