Newsletter | Friday, March 1, 2024

MCOE's Annual Recruitment Fair Proves Successful for Another Year

The Annual Recruitment Fair had a large turnout with over 140 attendees. Employment seekers came to the Student Center at Hartnell College on a Saturday morning to meet with representatives from MCOE, local school districts, and charter schools and to seek guidance from local colleges. The Recruitment Fair, led each year by MCOE’s Human Resources Department, helps provide a space for MCOE and school district leaders to meet with potential applicants. Job seekers were able to explore careers of interest based on their education or work experiences and interview on the spot.

Attending the event alongside MCOE’s Special Education, Alternative Education, General Services, and Transportation Departments, Monterey County Home Charter School, and the Early Learning Program were the Alisal, Greenfield, Chualar Gonzales, King City, Santa Rita, Salinas Union High, Soledad, Salinas City Elementary, Monterey Peninsula, and North Monterey County school districts. Additional informational tables were occupied by Monterey Bay Charter School, Oasis Charter Public School, Anthem Christian School, Chartwell School, Bay View Academy, CSU Fresno/CalStateTEACH, and Alliant International University. The CSU Monterey Bay Department of Education & Leadership and Hartnell College were also present to help attendees with information on teaching and teaching pathway programs.

This collaborative networking opportunity gives applicants a chance to meet and speak with potential employers, making it convenient to ask questions about positions of interest and any criteria needed for career placement. To see current open MCOE employment opportunities, please visit edjoin.org

Sean D. Tucker Receives Philanthropy for Peace Award

On Tuesday, February 21, MCOE’s partner and CEO of the Bob Hoover Academy at MCOE, Mr. Sean D. Tucker, was celebrated with the Philanthropy for Peace Award presented by the Community Alliance for Safety and Peace (CAPC). The Community Alliance for Safety and Peace (CASP) is a cross-sector collaboration forged to reduce youth violence and to change the pervasive culture of violence that currently harms the families, neighborhoods, and communities of Salinas and Monterey County as a whole.

As a Salinas native, Sean Tucker cares deeply about the youth in the Monterey County community. He launched the Bob Hoover Academy Non-Profit with the goal of supporting at-promise youth and a strong desire to give back to the community that he loves. Using STEM-based knowledge, high school curriculum, and hands-on practice, the Bob Hoover Academy at MCOE helps at-promise students to earn a high school diploma, create a pathway for a career or college, see a brighter future, and understand that they do have the power to decide their life trajectory.

Through the metaphor of flight, Bob Hoover Academy students learn that they control their destiny and can take their life into their own hands. They come to understand that if you can successfully fly a plane, then you can be successful in life. The students receive mentoring, academic support, free flight lessons, and mentorship from the school’s employees and volunteers. Some of the early graduates of the Bob Hoover Academy at MCOE are already working in promising careers and some come back to mentor the next generation of Bob Hoover Academy at MCOE students.

The Monterey County Office of Education is proud to work alongside Mr. Tucker and his team and to celebrate him for his relentless desire to make a positive impact on the lives of young people in Monterey County.

Student Highlights from MCOE’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program

Victor Medrano and Esmeralda Flores Rodriguez are participating in Culinary Arts at Salinas High School. These students are in the Monterey County Office of Education (MCOE) Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Program. The DHH program builds a strong language foundation that meets the unique needs of DHH students while offering electives that spark career interests and enhance life skills.

An Inside Look at Universal Pre-kindergarten Through Inside Education Monterey County

Community members accompanied Monterey County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Deneen Guss and MCOE leaders on the Inside Education Monterey County tour on Friday, February 16. Attendees traveled by school bus to three school locations to learn about the topic of Universal Pre-kindergarten (UPK).

This month’s Inside Education Monterey County tour offered attendees an inside look into MCOE’s Head Start/State Preschool Infant & Toddler program, as well as the Early Learning Program at Alisal Union School District and the Early Childhood Education Program at MPUSD. Each program incorporates several facets that best meet the needs of families in Monterey County learning communities. Early Childhood Education gives children a jump start on critical foundational skills, strategies, and experiences that promote success in school and beyond. Universal Pre-kindergarten programs also help to better prepare children for kindergarten by giving them greater knowledge of numerical concepts, language development, and social and emotional skill building.

Participants of the Inside Education Monterey County tour attentively lisened to the Early Learning Programs uniqueness. ELP programs help create a cultural and linguistic diversity of our community and work to provide the highest quality early childhood education and comprehensive child and family services to all children. The goal of ELP is to start preparing students with the skills needed for College and Career Readiness.

Greenfield Elementary School District Held its Annual Career Day

Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School in Greenfield held its annual College and Career Day on Friday, February 23. Presenters in many different career fields were asked to speak to classes and inspire students by sharing their personal career stories. During an engaging thirty-minute presentation, Monterey County Superintendent Dr. Deneen Guss shared her personal educational and professional experiences that led her to her current profession. Dr. Guss handed out prizes to the students as they listened intently to the many avenues of degrees and possible careers that are open to them.

Attendees, alongside Dr. Guss, included police officers, school board members, a school district superintendent, those working in the nonprofit sector, a Program Coordinator for CSUMB’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center, and so many others. Exposing students to career options early in their educational careers is important for their development as they grow and discover their interests. The College and Career Day event allows students to open their minds to career possibilities.

Monterey Korean School Celebrates its 30th Anniversary

The Monterey Korean School held an anniversary ceremony at its location in Seaside on Saturday, February 17, to celebrate and honor its long history and many contributions to the local community. This memorable event is held annually to commemorate its students and the positive impacts it has on the diverse community in Monterey County. This event marked a significant milestone as it reached its 30th year. The ceremony included dance and musical performances by students, congratulatory remarks from speakers from all walks of life, and a carefully prepared meal.

Monterey County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Deneen Guss and Deputy Superintendent Dr. Ralph Porras presented the leaders of the Monterey Korean School with a Superintendent Resolution to honor their significant contributions to the local community. Attendees alongside MCOE leaders included current students, teachers, parents, graduates, the Central California Grocery Association, Korean organizations, and many more local supporters in the County.

Established in 1994 as the first Korean school in Monterey County and the surrounding area, Monterey Korean School plays a vital role in shaping the lives of countless students by instilling in them the knowledge of the Korean language and a deep understanding and appreciation for the Korean cultural heritage. The educational experience is enriched by an open learning space that welcomes both members of the Korean community and the local community to enjoy the Korean language and culture.

Students of the Monterey Korean School become exemplary neighbors, create a stronger sense of identity, and engage with and contribute to the local community by sharing cultural values. The dedication and work led by the Monterey Korean School’s leaders help provide opportunities for cultural awareness in a vibrant and supportive space for new generations to connect with their roots. For more information on the Monterey Korean School, please visit www.montereyks.org.

MCAET Robotics Workshop

The MCOE's Mobile Fab Lab is offering a free Robotics Workshop open to grades 5 through 8. Students can gain hands-on experience building robots to compete in various real-world challenges.

For more information, please visit the Central Coast Mobile Fab Lab website or contact Juanita Savinon at jsavinon@montereycoe.org.

Open Door Charter Program

MCOE's Open Door Charter is an independent study program providing students, 18 and older, an opportunity to re-engage in their high school education, explore academic and career pathways, develop college and career readiness skills, and earn their diploma. For more information, visit the Open Door Charter School website.

Digital Art Workshop: Intro to Procreate

This class is for those that want to learn the basics of Procreate and already have their own iPad and Apple pencil, as well as the Procreate application. See workshop details below and learn more here.

Date: Saturday, March 16, 2024

Time: 10am - 2pm

Ages: 13- Adult

Location: The Lyceum

Instructor: Kristen Burroughs

Fee: $25*

*Must have your own iPad, Apple pencil & Procreate application.

Model United Nations (MUN)

Model United Nations (MUN) promotes an understanding of geography, social studies, and world history in a fun and interactive way, beyond the traditional textbook environment. Through role-playing, students bring current international issues to life and gain an interest and better understanding of global issues. In addition, MUN helps students improve public speaking, communication, and interpersonal skills; teaches students how to negotiate; emphasizes team-building, networking, and collaboration; and gives students the opportunity to hone their research and writing skills.

The MUN classes prepare students for the Lyceum's 14th Annual Model United Nations conference which will take place Saturday, April 27th, 2024 at Middlebury Institute for International Studies (MIIS) in Monterey.

Ages: 10 - 14 (Middle School Students)

Date: Four Tuesdays, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 2024

Hours: 4:00pm - 5:30pm

Instructor: Christina Guerrero

Location: The Lyceum

Fee: $75 (fee includes participation in the Middle School MUN Conference on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Light breakfast items and lunch included.

MUN Conference Location: Middlebury Institute for International Studies (MIIS) in Monterey.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Sharing information with the community is important to us. If you have information pertaining to education in Monterey County, such as events or scholarship opportunities that you would like to see featured in the MCOE newsletter, please email the information, including photos or flyers, to communications@monterecoe.org, and we will review your request. Thank you for your support!

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