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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Teachers rising strong during COVID-19 |
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May 12 is Day of the Teacher in California, an opportunity to celebrate the great work of our state's dedicated, caring educators who have taken on the role of essential workers during this unprecedented time.
LACOE has launched a social media campaign honoring educators, which includes illustrated comics showing how some of LA County's outstanding teachers are rising strong during this pandemic. Among those featured are California Teacher of the Year Jim Klipfel ( Saugus HS in William S. Hart Union HSD) and California Teacher of the Year finalist Ericca Dent (Joaquin Miller Elementary in Burbank USD).
In a resolution declaring the Day of the Teacher, the LA County Board of Education has paid tribute to teachers who have worked tirelessly during distance learning and the transition to in-person instruction as schools reopened.
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Classified School Employee Week
Working on the front lines to support students
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While many employees worked from home, essential workers on the front lines continued to go to the workplace, risking their health on a daily basis. Besides medical workers, no group may be more at risk than the people charged with sanitizing the workplace: custodians.
“The most rewarding part of my job is knowing that the staff and students have remained safe on our campus,” says Santos Salazar, a custodian at West Whittier School in Whittier City SD, featured in LACOE-produced illustrated comics showing how classified school employees are rising to the challenge of COVID-19.
In a resolution, the LA County Board of Education has declared May 16-22 as Classified School Employee Week, which honors Salazar and all the classified school employees in LA County who have stepped up to support students during this pandemic.
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Teacher surprised with $5k worth of school supplies |
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Jared Kaitz, a drama teacher at Diamond Bar HS in Walnut Valley USD, was presented a surprise gift during Teacher Appreciation Week: $5,000 worth of educational supplies including a dance floor, Bluetooth speaker and a MacBook Pro.
A recipient of a SoCal Honda Random Act of Helpfulness, Kaitz was lauded for providing an inclusive theater program that allows every student to feel accepted as their most authentic self.
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Lynwood USD celebrates arts education |
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The Lynwood USD community recently gathered virtually for a day filled with art activities and lively band, dance and drama performances during the district’s seventh annual Arts Festival and District Showcase.
Students, families, teachers and faculty were welcomed by Supt. Gudiel R. Crosthwaite, Assemblymember Anthony Rendon, Lynwood Mayor Marisela Santana and Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator Mariana Astorga-Almanza. Sponsored by Assemblymember Rendon, Conga Kids, P.S. Arts and The Music Center, the event featured student artwork and performances by the Pacifico Dance Company and Conga Kids.
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Presidential Awards for Excellence in Math & Science Teaching
Three LA County teachers named finalists
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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond honored six exceptional mathematics and science teachers (three from LA County), naming them as finalists from California for the 2021 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
“This has been a year full of significant challenges for students—personal, economic, and social. The teachers recognized today are giving their students the tools to help them tackle difficulties, find creative solutions, ask questions and be the problem-solvers we need for the challenges of tomorrow,” Thurmond said.
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LAUSD student shines in monologue competition |
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Center Theatre Group’s regional finalist, Tyla Uzo, took 3rd place in the August Wilson Monologue Competition (AWMC) National Finals held virtually last week. Uzo, who took second place in the 2020 regional finals, was joined in the national competition on May 1 by the top performers of the 2021 AWMC regional finals, Hazel Eko and Stephen Moran.
Uzo, a student at the Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts in LAUSD, advanced to the finals on May 3, where her 3rd-place award earned her a scholarship of $1,000. This is the 10th consecutive year that Center Theatre Group has hosted the Los Angeles component of the national monologue competition. The program is designed to inspire and educate Los Angeles youth using monologues from August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle,” a 10-play cycle that details the complexity of the African American experience in the 20th century.
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Celebrating child care heroes |
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Celebrating Child Care Provider Appreciation Day last week, Quality Start Los Angeles, LA County’s Quality Rating and Improvement System, led a communications campaign to recognize teachers and education staff who provide educational services and care to children.
In this video, education and community leaders thanked early learning and care providers for their dedication to serve children during this pandemic, helping ensure parents can return to work and provide for their families.
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Social-emotional learning: Healing through the arts |
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Our students need connection, collaboration and creativity to process the COVID-19 crisis. The arts are unique in decreasing students’ stress and anxiety. As students return to in-person learning, arts education needs to be a part of students’ social-emotional learning (SEL) activities. Students need the tools to re-enter school and process joyfully.
CREATE CA has created a toolkit highlighting the importance of arts education both for social-emotional learning and a joyful in-person school re-entry this May. You are invited to sign the pledge to join the movement for a full and relevant arts education for all students.
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An article written by Winston Hsu, a junior at the LACOE-run International Polytechnic High School, was recently published in Los Angeles Times' HS Insider. In his piece about modern-day slavery, Hsu encourages the public to stop buying from companies that use slave labor and become more aware of the places where human trafficking happens.
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Inglewood dancer earns full scholarship to NYU |
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LACOE's LA County High School for the Arts student Assata Gaines was featured in this ABC7 story showing how her hard work and sacrifice paid off when she earned a full-ride dance scholarship to New York University's Tisch Dance Program.
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Rediscovering the heart of teaching during COVID |
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When schools were forced to switch to distance learning last year, LACOE Teacher of the Year Theresa Gonzales rediscovered why she had decided to become an educator. Her experience during the pandemic has shown her that she was right where she needed to be.
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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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