In this difficult time, LACOE remains committed to improving the lives of students and our educational community through service, leadership and advocacy. Here, we share best practices, tips and success stories from the county’s 80 districts as we innovate and adapt together to ensure continuity of learning and safety of students, staff and families. |
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Countywide campaign vs hate |
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LACOE supports the countywide campaign against hate, specifically the growing discrimination and hate crimes against Asian Americans. Our nation has a long history of racism against Americans of Asian descent, including passing the Chinese Exclusion Act and ordering Japanese Americans into internment camps during World War II.
Now more than ever, students need to learn about anti-Asian racism and xenophobia and how they relate to current events. Understanding the issues empowers students to stand up against hate.
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Voices from detention: Migrant children speak |
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The LA County High School for the Arts Theatre Department, in collaboration with Waterwell, NYC, will present The Flores Exhibits: Voices from the Americas, a virtual event featuring the testimonies of children and adults who were held in Texas immigration detention centers in June 2019.
This special event, scheduled on Saturday, March 20, 10 am to 12 pm, will explore the efforts that artists are making to humanize the conversation, how local organizations are impacting immigration policies and how they serve as a catalyst for change. There will be readings by LACHSA theater students, with creations from other art departments.
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Educators receive first doses of vaccine |
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Since March 1, LACOE partnerships with LA County Department of Public Health and CA Department of Public Health have allocated more than 115,000 vaccine doses to education workers in LA County. Educators have received their first doses at more than 20 community vaccination sites, including County-operated sites, such as the LACOE/Downey POD profiled in this video.
Vaccine doses are distributed weekly using a formula that considers poverty level, COVID case rate in the community and whether on-campus instruction or services are being provided.
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Town hall discusses COVID-19 vaccination |
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LACOE school health expert Susan Chaides was a featured panelist on a COVID-19 Vaccine Town Hall hosted by Assemblymember Chris Holden on March 10 to answer questions about the vaccine, the impact on schools and our ability to get back to normal.
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BHUSD welcomes back students to Hawthorne, Horace Mann |
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Beverly Hills USD, one of several districts that reopened campuses earlier this month, has welcomed students to Hawthorne Elementary and Horace Mann Elementary. BHUSD Supt. Michael Bregy said he felt "an overwhelming sense of relief and happiness" in seeing the district's youngest learners return to school with excitement and anticipation.
"I could not be prouder of the BHUSD community for making (the first day of reopening) very special for our students," Dr. Bregy said in a statement. "I visited both Hawthorne and Horace Mann and can say with full conviction that we were and will continue to be ready to keep everyone as safe as possible. We are eager to continue on this trajectory and bring the rest of our students back to campus as soon as possible."
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California Teacher of the Year honored by colleagues |
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Saugus HS in William Hart Union HSD pays tribute to social studies teacher Jim Klipfel, who has been selected as California Teacher of the Year. Colleagues and former students describe how Klipfel has gone above and beyond to inspire and empower students. Saugus HS Principal Vince Ferry says Klipfel models “what it means to teach, lead and love with a servant’s heart.” “He understands the importance of making connections or relationships with students so they can grow and learn,” Ferry says in a video produced by ETN/Communications at LACOE.
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Students mark anniversary of campus closure |
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More than 1,200 heartfelt notes of hope, comfort and friendship are on display at Walnut HS in Walnut Valley USD to mark the one-year anniversary of campus closure due to the pandemic.
The "Mustang Messages" support students who have been learning from a distance since March 13 last year. Student leaders from Key Club, National Honor Society, Leo Club, Hands 4 Hope and Care and Connect collaborated on the project. "It's an outlet for everyone to express their feelings," says 17-year-old Key Club president Annika Le in a video about the student activity.
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One-year anniversary of school closures
An equity-focused public education system can emerge stronger than before
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March 13 marked one year since Supt. Debra Duardo recommended the closure of LA County schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In this video message, Dr. Duardo reflects on the impact of this health crisis on education communities, with a focus on the silver lining: An equity-focused public education system can emerge stronger than before.
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Promoting excellence in civic and history education |
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Educating for American Democracy (EAD) is an unprecedented effort to provide guidance for excellence in civic and history education for K–12 students—and to enhance the way in which the subjects are taught in schools so they generate prepared, informed and engaged citizens.
On March 5, LACOE History-Social Science Coordinator Dr. Michelle Herczog joined Dr. Paul Carrese, founding director, School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University and Dr. Kent McGuire, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation program director for Education, in a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Emma Humphries, iCivics chief education officer and CivXNow deputy director.
Dr. Herczog, past president of the California Council for the Social Studies, co-chaired EAD's Political Science Task Force and served on the EAD executive committee. The project was funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the U.S. Department of Education through a grant to iCivics, Harvard University, Tufts University and Arizona State University.
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Don’t miss this special event featuring university professor and thought-leader Dr. Victor Rios for a timely discussion on culturally responsive, emotionally relevant and anti-racist education. Dr. Rios will share practical strategies that help at-promise students succeed.
Sharing insights from his own life experience, as well as the latest research, his talk underlines the importance of emotional support in the lives of marginalized students and demonstrates practical strategies and virtual tools for implementing this support in remote learning, and the back-to-school transition.
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School Social Work Week
Social work interns receive NEXT awards
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LACOE recently honored its first cohort of social work interns for their outstanding work supporting student wellness and improving school attendance and student engagement.
The eight graduate-level interns worked in the Division of Pupil Services School Mental Health Program that was launched last year at the Renaissance PAU, the LA County High School for the Arts and IPoly High School. They were honored on March 10 – during School Social Work Week – as part of the NEXT Awards Program that was developed to shine a spotlight on the great work of employees serving education communities in LA County.
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Resources for Families & Schools |
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Don’t forget, LACOE is regularly updating several pages of resources:
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