News from Folsom Cordova schools

Friday, April 24, 2020 | Volume X, Issue XXX

News, Announcements, & Success Stories

Wellness support for students, staff, and families

Dramatic shifts in our school, work, and home life have had a significant impact on many, including our most vulnerable students. During this time of physical distancing, we want to reassure the students and families in our District that we care about the mental health and well-being of our school community.

We have created a new landing page to provide resources, suggestions on ways to cope, and avenues to seek help.

Please visit: www.fcusd.org/wellness for more information.

-Channa Cook-Harvey, Director Social Emotional Learning

COVID-19 Updates

For the latest information and updates, please continue to visit: www.fcusd.org/coronavirus

FCUSD leader named 2020 ACSA State Personnel/HR Administrator of the Year

Michael Shepherd, Folsom Cordova's Director of Human Resources, has been named the 2020 State Personnel/HR Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA).

Shepherd, who has held various teaching and leadership roles in Folsom Cordova for more than two decades, was selected from among 265 nominees for the association's annual recognition of outstanding school and district leaders from throughout California. He earned the honor for exemplifying the following criteria:

Promoting a commitment to educational quality and student achievement and a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the school community
Modeling a personal code of ethics and commitment to professional growth
Employing creativity and innovation in dealing with issues and problems facing public education and in responding to diverse community interests and needs

Congratulations Mike Shepherd you make FCUSD proud!

-Shannon Buck, Administrative Assistant, Communication and Community Engagement, [email protected]

#FCUSDstrong

We know there have been many challenges for all, due to the school closures. Though this, we have also seen an outpouring of support, words of encouragement and moments of grace that deserve capturing. We've compiled a few of these quotes and pictures on our website: www.fcusd.org/fcusdstrong

Teachers, students, families - Let's hear from you!

Please fill out this survey and share a kind word or picture with us.

-Angela Griffin Ankhelyi, Director, Communication and Community Engagement , [email protected]

Beloved community member and former FCUSD Board of Trustee passes away

Josie Steelman was born in Mile Branch West Virginia February 15, 1939. She and her husband Dale moved to Rancho Cordova in 1963.

Steelman started volunteering at Cordova Villa in 1964. In addition to being the neighborhood "Mom", she was the PTA President, yard duty, and the first Parent Coordinator for Folsom Cordova Unified School District in the 1970s and `80s.

A graduate of Cordova Adult School, Steelman also had six children who were raised through the school district.

Many of her grandchildren have followed in these footsteps.

Everyone who lived in the Cordova Villa neighborhood when it was a fledgling group of young parents and their children, remembers her as a volunteer at the pioneering neighborhood school, Cordova Villa.

In the words of the Grapevine Independent (2006) "That volunteerism led to her being elected to serve with the distinction on the FCUSD School Board from 1983 to 1991. During her time with the school district's board of directors, Steelman said she helped expand the district's bilingual programs and establish the business partnership programs that remain successful today. She also worked at establishing what she called an adolescent parent program at school."

-Submitted by Linda Budge; Rancho Cordova City Council