School superintendent steps down - Folsom Telegraph

School superintendent steps down - Folsom Telegraph:

"After 36 years as an educator, Patrick Godwin, superintendent of the Folsom Cordova Unified School District (FCUSD), will retire at the conclusion of the current academic year.
Serving as superintendent for the last five years, Godwin’s retirement will be effective on June 30, 2010.

“It has been a pleasure being a part of the FCUSD family, and I will continue to relish the opportunity to work with you for the remainder of this school year. We have many challenges ahead, but we also have the caring, courage, creativity, and intelligence to meet them. However, after 36 years in education, I am ready to take on different challenges and to take time to explore other aspects of life,” said Godwin in a statement."

NEWS FROM BARBARA BOXER, UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA

Dear Friend:

As you probably know, Congress passed legislation this week to extend unemployment insurance for nearly 2 million Americans who would have otherwise lost their benefits by the end of the year.

H.R.3548, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009, will extend benefits by 14 weeks for jobless workers across the entire country and by 20 weeks in states with unemployment rates higher than 8.5 percent -- including California, where the unemployment rate is 12.2 percent. The bill also includes a provision to extend homebuyer tax credits and a tax provision to ease the burden of the economic downturn on struggling businesses.

This bill comes at a critical time, when millions of Americans and at least 170,000 Californians are at risk of losing their unemployment benefits. Extending benefits will not only help laid-off workers support their families while they look for jobs, it will also provide a boost to our economy.

Extending unemployment insurance is crucial now because more than one in three jobless workers have been out of work for at least six months, and every day 7,000 Americans lose their unemployment benefits.

Extending unemployment insurance also will help stimulate the economy. Every $1 spent on unemployment benefits generates $1.61 in new economic demand. The legislation is also fiscally responsible, with the Congressional Budget Office concluding that the benefits extension will be fully offset.

H.R.3548 includes a homebuyer tax credit provision that extends the $8,000 tax credit for first-ime homebuyers until April 30, 2010. The bill also gives a $6,500 credit to homebuyers who have been in their current residence for the last five years or more. The homebuyer credit also includes tax relief for military personnel and members of the Foreign Service and intelligence community, and anti-fraud language to prevent abuse of the tax credits.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer

United States Senator

To respond to this message, please click here. This link will take you to a webpage where you can reply to messages that you receive from Senator Boxer’s office.

Education Week: Bill Would Replace Key Federal Literacy Programs

Education Week: Bill Would Replace Key Federal Literacy Programs:

"Long-awaited legislation to replace three federal reading programs—Early Reading First, Reading First, and Striving Readers—was introduced last week by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and would authorize $2.35 billion in funding to improve reading and writing in kindergarten to 12th grade.

As of press time, a similar literacy bill was to be introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Reps. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., and Jared Polis, D-Colo.
The Senate’s comprehensive-literacy bill, if passed and fully funded, would represent a huge boost in federal aid for adolescent literacy."

All We Can Eat - The freakonomics of school lunch

All We Can Eat - The freakonomics of school lunch:

"The easy answer to why it’s hard to improve school lunch is money. The hard answer is, of course, much more complicated.

Yes, schools need more money to buy more fruits and vegetables and to pay staff to replace processed foods with meals made from scratch. But they also need students to want to eat more healthful foods. After all, if a school invests in fresh foods and the kids all head to McDonald's, nobody wins. (Well, except McDonald's.)

A new paper published in Choices Magazine, a publication of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, demonstrates how a close study of behavioral economics could improve what students eat. Better, it won’t cost most school districts a penny."

Education

Education

Top Features

Secret Recipes RevealedRaegen Miller provides some clarity to the formulas used in Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and how they could be improved.

Stimulating ExcellenceReport from CAP, AEI, Public Impact, and New Profit explores how state and federal policy can encourage innovation in education.

The Fiscal Costs of Expanded Learning TimeReport provides a framework for policymakers and practitioners to identify the key cost components involved in expanding the school day.

College-Ready Students, Student-Ready CollegesReport from Louis Soares and Christopher Mazzeo offers solutions for raising degree completion rates through student empowerment and systems change.

Ensuring Equal Opportunity in Public EducationReport addresses ways in which local school district funding practices hurt disadvantaged students and what federal policy can do about it.

Other Education Features

November 4, 2009
The Impact of Community SchoolsSaba Bireda explains how community schools help low-income minority students in their extracurricular activities. By Saba Bireda
November 2, 2009
Schools for the Whole CommunityPrime Minister Tony Blair, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and Rep. Steny Hoyer visit CAP to talk about community schools.
October 30, 2009
Weekly Round Up: October 26 - October 30This week CAP offered insight on community schools, released a report on green-collar jobs, and profiled Afghan power brokers.
October 28, 2009
A Look at Community SchoolsReport from Saba Bireda explains how community schools can alleviate obstacles outside the classroom that hinder student achievement, particularly for those living in poverty. By Saba Bireda
October 28, 2009
Interactive Map: Profiles of Community SchoolsA look at some community school projects across the nation that provide on-site social services, after hours learning opportunities, and a variety of other supports. By Saba Bireda
October 28, 2009
Ask the Expert: A Primer on Community SchoolsSaba Bireda explains what community schools are, how they improve student achievement, and how we can implement them. By Saba Bireda

Support HR 3962! Call Congress TODAY at (877) 235-2465

With just 24 hours left until the big health care reform vote in the U.S. House, we need everyone to call your representative today at (877) 235-2465, and urge them to support HR 3962!

http://www.house.gov/

NBCDI

NBCDI:

"The Sacramento affiliate focuses on the emotional development of young girls, community health awareness, and elementary and secondary education.

One of the affiliate's programs includes the annual DIVA Conference where African American young women in grades 8th - 12th are invited to learn about their physical, mental and emotional selves. The conference introduces young women to health and self-esteem related issues such as the value of physical fitness, positive self images, and the importance of setting goals. If you would like more information on this affiliate, please contact the chapter president."


DETERMlNED, INTELLIGENT, VALUED AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUNG LADY

2009 DIVIA CONFERENCE Calling all young ladies and their friends ages 12-18 ... it's time for the 17th Annual 2009 D.I.V.A. Conference!

Come prepared to be motivated, encouraged and informed on topics important to you and your future.

Please complete the registration form below and invite your parents to attend our parent workshops.

"It's Time/or Change"

WHEN: FRIDAY, Nov 20,2009 (6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.) & SATURDAY, NOV 21, 2009 (7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.)

WHERE:COSUMNES RIVER COLLEGE (THEATER ARTS BUILDING) 8401 CENTER PARK WAY, SACRAMENTO, CA

COST: Pre-Registration $20 per person before 11/6/09 (Includes continental breakfast and lunch)

Registration $25 per person after 11/6/09 (Includes continental breakfast and lunch)

*Please contact Barbara Curry at 916-344-4453 or Jo Watts at 916- 646-1763 for information*

Ford Foundation gives $100 million to reform urban high schools -- latimes.com

Ford Foundation gives $100 million to reform urban high schools -- latimes.com:

"The Ford Foundation pledged $100 million Wednesday to 'transform' urban high schools in the United States, focusing on seven cities, including Los Angeles.

The seven-year initiative is among the largest philanthropic efforts aimed at improving education in the United States and, as described, could both complement and challenge aspects of the Obama administration's education reform efforts. It will fund research and reform in four areas: teacher quality, student assessment, a longer school day and year, and school funding.

The initiative is being led by Jeannie Oakes, who until recently was head of the Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access at UCLA, where she was a strong advocate for reform aimed at helping disadvantaged students in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Besides Los Angeles, the Ford Foundation effort will focus on schools in New York, Newark, N.J., Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit and Denver."

California school boards group snubs state legislators | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times

California school boards group snubs state legislators L.A. NOW Los Angeles Times:

"And the winner is ... no one.

That’s right. Nobody won this year’s Legislator of the Year Award from the California School Boards Assn. because schools suffered so much from funding cuts approved by the state Legislature that the group didn't want to single out any lawmaker for praise.

“Sure, there are some legislators who have done good things for education, and others that we admire for their efforts,” Frank Pugh, the group’s president-elect and a board member for Santa Rosa city schools, said in a release. “But for crying out loud, schools have been cut by $2,100 per student. We’d be nuts to present this award to anybody in a year when the cuts are going to have detrimental effects on an entire generation of students. We just have to draw the line somewhere.”"

California might miss swine flu inoculation goal because of vaccine shortage | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times

California might miss swine flu inoculation goal because of vaccine shortage L.A. NOW Los Angeles Times:

"If H1N1 flu vaccine shortages persist, California may not be able to vaccinate those most at risk by the end of December, public health officials said today.

Health officials have said that at least 25 city and county health agencies have received less than 45% of the vaccine doses they ordered. The state's goal had been to have all 'high-risk' patients vaccinated by Dec. 31 -- but the shortage of vaccine is putting that goal in jeopardy.

“We may not be able to meet the target if the vaccine does not get here,' said Dr. Gil Chavez, epidemiologist for the California Department of Public Health.

Chavez said state officials are monitoring the problem and plan to deliver more vaccine within two weeks to the agencies with significant shortfalls. “As we move forward, we are actually able to tell who has received vaccine, who has not, and try to bring people to parity,” he said.

“We believe, by and large, that the vaccine is being given to those who should receive it,” he added.

Vaccinations for the so-called swine flue are supposed to be directed to five priority groups: pregnant women, people ages 2-24, healthcare workers, caregivers of babies under 6 months old, and people ages 25-64 with chronic health conditions that put them at increased risk of complications from the flu."

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson gets engaged - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson gets engaged - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has gotten engaged to Washington, D.C., schools chancellor Michelle Rhee.

Johnson's office confirmed the engagement in an e-mailed statement this morning. Spokesman Joaquin McPeek declined to say when or where the engagement happened. He said no wedding date has been set and the couple is planning a long engagement."

"This is an exciting time in our lives, and I feel truly blessed," Johnson said in a statement. "Michelle is an amazing person, and I could not be happier."

The Washington Post's Reliable Source blog reported Rhee, 39, was seen at a Democrats for Education Reform/DC School Reform Event Now event in downtown Washington on Wednesday with a "pretty sparkly thing on her left hand."

Johnson and Rhee have been seen holding hands at several public events in recent months, but the mayor has refused to discuss their personal relationship.

Sacramento Press / Benefit Auctioneer Raises Big Bucks for Area Non-Profits, Despite Tough Economy

Sacramento Press / Benefit Auctioneer Raises Big Bucks for Area Non-Profits, Despite Tough Economy:

"Professional benefit auctioneer David Sobon raised more than $102,000 for charitable causes in a recent three-day weekend of back-to-back live auctions—defying recent economy-driven declines in charitable contributions that have decimated many Sacrament-area non-profits.

Sobon, a partner in Maximum Benefits Auctions, presided at a live auction Friday, Oct. 16, that raised more than $25,000 for Faces of Tomorrow, a Yolo County organization that funds facial surgery for Ecuadoran children with cleft palate. A second live auction Saturday, Oct. 17, raised more than $23,000 for the Woodland Sunrise Rotary’s project to provide cooking stoves for impoverished families in Guatemala; and a third live auction Sunday, Oct. 18, raised more than $56,000 for the Susan G. Komen Sacramento Valley Affiliate."

Reliable Source - Michelle Rhee and Kevin Johnson get engaged

Reliable Source - Michelle Rhee and Kevin Johnson get engaged:

"To say that Michelle Rhee and Kevin Johnson rolled out their relationship carefully is an understatement. Last winter, the D.C. schools chief declined to say whether she and the mayor of Sacramento -- a longtime friend and close political ally -- were dating.

Not even after we saw them holding hands during the inauguration! ('I don't comment on my personal life,' she said at the time.)
But seems as though they're officially a couple now. In fact, she confirmed for us, they're engaged.

Rhee, 39, spoke Wednesday night at a Democrats for Education Reform/DC School Reform Now event downtown, and a pretty sparkly thing on her left hand caught the eye of more than one audience member. Seems fitting, since this is a relationship we've largely followed via sightings of the two at various policy-wonk confabs."

» ‘Iron Chef America’ Comes to the White House Row 2, Seat 4 « FOXNews.com

» ‘Iron Chef America’ Comes to the White House Row 2, Seat 4 « FOXNews.com:

"Set your Tivos and DVRs: the Food Network is airing a 'Super Chef Special' two-hour episode of Iron Chef America on January 3rd that will feature not only the White House Kitchen Garden but First Lady Michelle Obama and White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford."

Food Network celebrity chefs Mario Batali, Bobby Flay and Emeril Lagasse were in Washington last month for the special taping at the White House, confirms the First Lady's office.

In the episode, the chefs are greeted by the First Lady and are given their Super Chef Challenge: "create a meal for America using the White House Kitchen Garden's produce as their secret ingredients," announced the Food Network in a statement.

The chefs will compete in teams: Flay and Comerford versus Batali and Lagasse. Armed with their secret White House Kitchen Garden ingredients, the four chefs then head to New York to 'Kitchen Stadium' for the actual battle.

According to the Food Network statement, "each team must produce five dishes that showcase the ingredients they selected from the garden and that represent the ultimate American meal."

The battle's judges will include chef Nigella Lawson, Olympic gold medalist Natalie Coughlin; and actress Jane Seymour.
Mrs. Obama recently had 5th graders from a local school come to the Garden for a harvesting event.

Virtual schools chart new course | ajc.com

Virtual schools chart new course ajc.com:

"Representatives of five would-be virtual charter schools will file into the administrative towers of the Georgia Department of Education today to pitch their brand of public education, which lets students study at home computers in their pajamas."

Some contenders will come with national representatives from education management companies touting their records of student achievement in other states. Some will rely on the moms and dads who sit on the boards of petitioning schools to make their case.

If they’re successful, they stand to be funded just as any other Georgia public school. Some state officials, however, aren’t ready to prop open the door of school choice and let more cyber campuses in without first doing more homework on the subject.

Tuesday, the state Board of Education stifled the plans of the state’s only existing virtual charter school, which asked for the opportunity to compete for full funding from the Georgia Charter Schools Commission. The state school board tabled the request so it could study the issue.

The five newcomers, however, did not have to seek permission to petition the commission. They have bypassed traditional routes to charter authorization in Georgia, which is first seeking approval from a local school district and then, if denied, appealing to the state Board of Education. With a second charter authorizer in the state up and running, new pathways are being created for charter school hopefuls.

Bridging Differences: Simplify Everything Else, Not Kids & Subject Matter

Bridging Differences: Simplify Everything Else, Not Kids & Subject Matter:

"Dear Diane,

The absurdities you describe are on the mark and ought to kill the idea of paying teachers based on their students' test scores. But we both know the idea won't die that easily. Even the most renowned of testing experts argue that we're nowhere near being able to produce tests that can do the job of pay-by-score that folks want. I do wonder at times what 'they' think they are doing?

The trouble is that when I start down that path I see conspiracies everywhere—for example, that these schemes justify hiring inexperienced and low-paid teachers—who can do scripted test-prep as well as the next guy. It has the handy side effect of destroying solidarity which from a businessman's perspective (perhaps) is a good thing, and keeps teachers away from controversial subjects—and tightly aligned to the stuff being tested. It probably weakens unions. And finally, it paves the way for a marketplace system of schooling instead of a public one (which is then relabeled a bureaucratic monopolistic model). Of course, the latter can be true—and as you know I was an early champion of choice and increased school autonomy for just that reason—within the public sector."

Michelle Obama at "Science Bowl" "I'm like Alex Trebek" Transcript, Pool report - Lynn Sweet

Michelle Obama at "Science Bowl" "I'm like Alex Trebek" Transcript, Pool report - Lynn Sweet:

"Ten students from two Maryland middle schools held a high-stakes practice for the regional Science Bowl competition Thursday in Washington. There were no prizes on the line, just a moderator who promised to report the results of the competition to her husband - the president.

First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the practice competition in an auditorium at the Department of Energy, where longtime DoE employees made up the audience. The event was part of Obama's tour of federal agencies. The first lady was originally scheduled to visit the Department of Energy in February, but Secretary of Energy Stephen Chu, who introduced Obama, said the White House canceled her appearance at the last minute and sent a 'substitute.'

'The president did an admirable job of filling in,' Chu said to laughter. 'But today we have the real deal.'"

More report cards go online - USATODAY.com

More report cards go online - USATODAY.com:

"CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — When report cards went out for students in the Clarksville-Montgomery County school district in October, most of the 29,000-plus students did not have a printed version for their parents to sign.

That's because the district went largely paperless with its report cards for the first time, making grades available to parents with secure accounts online, says communications manager Michelle Newell.

A growing number of districts nationwide are making the change says Ann Flynn, director of education technology with the National School Boards Association."

District takes close look at co-op - Daily Democrat Online

District takes close look at co-op - Daily Democrat Online:

"While funding for the Woodland Parent Nursery School only accounts for a fraction of the about $3 million in the school district's necessary cuts for 2010-11, outcry among parents is 100 percent.

The Woodland Parent Nursery School is a 55-year-old cooperative that enables parents to work for reduced fees while playing an instrumental role in their child's education.

The preschool is overseen by the district's Adult Education program, which pays for a full-time director and teacher, amounting to $29,885 of the districts general fund.
The preschool is one of four Adult Education programs on the chopping block, equating to half a million dollars in potential cuts to the school."

Give Obama A+ for school reform ideas - CNN.com

Give Obama A+ for school reform ideas - CNN.com:

"San Diego, California (CNN) -- President Obama deserves an A+ for his agenda for education reform. His decision to nominate Arne Duncan as U.S. education secretary was inspired, and his comments on holding the system accountable are honest, refreshing and insightful.

Obama showed that again this week with a powerful speech at James C. Wright Middle School in Madison, Wisconsin.

He announced that, in the coming weeks, states would be able to compete for their share of more than $4 billion in funding through the administration's Race to the Top initiative. But in order to do that, he said, the states have to demonstrate that they're serious about increasing accountability by doing things like tearing down 'firewall laws' that prevent districts from factoring in student performance when evaluating teachers."

SCUSD Observer: Confirmed: Montessori will move to TJ Elementary

SCUSD Observer: Confirmed: Montessori will move to TJ Elementary:

"Confirmed: Montessori will move to TJ Elementary

California Montessori Project will be relocating to the Thomas Jefferson Elementary School located at 2635 Chestnut Hill Drive, Sacramento, CA 95826. School will be closed on Nov. 12th and 13th for the move and will resume on Monday, November 16th. SCUSD will provide bus transportation in the morning and the afternoon beginning Nov. 12th through the end of the school year."

voiceofsandiego.org: Schooled... Guest Blogger: A Day in the Life of School Budget Cuts

voiceofsandiego.org: Schooled... Guest Blogger: A Day in the Life of School Budget Cuts:

"Guest blogger Ashley Hermsmeier is a teacher, runner and writer in her sixth year of teaching English at El Capitan High School in Lakeside. In her blog titled, 'I Run Because I Teach' she discusses the two aspects of life that simultaneously mean the most and frustrate her the most (besides her husband)-- teaching and running.

These are her reflections and opinions, not mine, so if you have burning questions or comments, please contact Ashley via e-mail at amorrow@guhsd.net. Or post a comment here on the blog.
-- EMILY ALPERT

8:02 a.m. Second Period
My students shuffle into the classroom turning off cell phones and stowing iPods in hoodie pockets. As they sit down and begin to unpack their things, I hear pieces of conversations and the occasional cough or sniffle. When I take roll I notice six students are absent. I usually have two empty desks, for a class size of 37, but today the room feels cavernous. I am reminded of the teacher down the hall who doesn’t have enough desks for all her 42 students; I feel lucky to have only 37 students."

Sex education will help gay children | Joseph Galliano | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

Sex education will help gay children Joseph Galliano Comment is free guardian.co.uk:

Think B4 You Speak.com

"As a gay child, and in common with many gay children, I was terrified for most of my school life. My earliest sexual encounters – which all occurred before the age of consent (21 at that time) – were unsafe and I constantly felt that I could somehow be 'in trouble' for who I was.

If I did receive any sex education that seemed relevant, though appalling to me, it came in the form of an almost annual scandal – the suspension and expulsion of a couple of boys unfortunate enough to be caught in some forbidden clinch. We were either invisible or bullied by our peers and those in authority, denied information about ourselves and denied the right for our sexuality to be just one of the many things that made us who we were.

Of course, this was almost 25 years ago for me and many positive changes have swept through society since then. We have an equal age of consent, anti-hate crime laws and more positive role models. I am deeply heartened that the government has finally done the decent thing and attempted to make proper sex education available to all schoolchildren and that this will now include information about homosexuality and civil partnerships."

ACLU sues state over county graduation rate -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

ACLU sues state over county graduation rate -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com:

"Palm Beach County's 'poor' high school graduation rate is a result of the state's failure to provide a high-quality education guaranteed under the state constitution, a class-action lawsuit claims.

On behalf of parents and students, the American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday sued state officials in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. A judge dismissed a similar lawsuit against local school officials in June 2008, ruling that they could not be named as defendants.

In the new litigation targeting Gov. Charlie Crist, Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith and others, the ACLU wants the district to improve its graduation rate and to remove a 'significant disparity' between the rates of white students and their black and Hispanic peers."

Z Blogs

Z Blogs:

"On October 24 more than 800 students, teachers, and other workers met to plan how to advance the struggle to defend and transform public education in California and beyond.

The 10/24 conference endorsed the U of California and California State U strike and mobilization on Nov. 17th- 20th and decided to call for statewide solidarity actions on these days.

In addition, Conference participants also called for a 'Strike and Day of Action that is inclusive of all different tactics, including: walkouts, rallies, march to Sacramento, teach ins, occupations, and all other forms of protests chosen by schools and organizations.'"

Golden Gate [X]press : 'Broken California' in need of reboot

Golden Gate [X]press : 'Broken California' in need of reboot:

"More than a hundred people gathered in Knuth Hall Thursday evening to listen to suggestions on how to make California better.

'Something is broken and needs fixing,' said Gerald Eisman, director of the Institute for Civic and Community Engagement.

The town hall meeting in the College of Creative Arts building included five speakers and each one gave their advice on what Californians can do to improve the state.
SF State senior Honora Keller provided a student's perspective for the budget cuts as well as supporting an idea for creating more money for higher education in California."

Misinformation: the Enemy of Excellence - The Daily Californian

Misinformation: the Enemy of Excellence - The Daily Californian:

"Misinformation is the enemy of progress toward solutions that will preserve excellence and access within all 10 campuses of the University of California.

One troubling example is the claim by a UC Santa Cruz faculty union leader that educational fee increases are being implemented to allow the university system and campuses to borrow more money for capital projects.

It's the kind of factually challenged distortion we've come to expect in partisan politics. What makes it troubling is that this and other misleading claims spread like viruses through the UC community. We hope students, faculty and staff recognize it for what it is: nonsense."

Public forum puts focus on career tech education - Daily Democrat Online

Public forum puts focus on career tech education - Daily Democrat Online:

"The Yolo County School Boards Association will be hosting an evening's discussion on the state of career and technical education in Yolo County from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, Nov. 16, in the community room (Building 800) at Woodland Community College.

Career and technical education is a state-funded program taught by teachers with experience in their related industries.

High school students are eligible and earn grades and credits toward graduation and in some cases, meet University of California 'a through g' requirements and can earn college credits, gain experience required for immediate employment, participate in courses that offer internships, earn certificates of completion, and experience careers that may assist in choosing college majors and enhance college admission applications."

Riverside educator is selected as a California Teacher of the Year

Riverside educator is selected as a California Teacher of the Year:

My Teacher, My Hero True Stories of Great Teachers

"A Riverside Unified School District history teacher was among five grade school educators named today as California “Teachers of the Year.”

Amber Carrow, a seventh-grade world history instructor at Chemawa Middle School, was selected by state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, based on a review conducted by a state selection committee, according to the California Department of Education.

The other four awardees are: Kelly Kovacic, a social studies teacher at The Preuss School in San Diego; Kathy Martin, a physical science teacher at Sierra Vista Middle School in Irvine; Melanie Tolan, an English teacher at the Sarah Anthony School in San Diego; and Valerie Ziegler, a history and economics teacher at Abraham Lincoln High School in San Francisco."

Plain Talk: Kids will never forget Obama visit

Plain Talk: Kids will never forget Obama visit:

"Some random musings about the president's visit to Madison this week:

Over the years, I've attended several events where presidents of the United States have spoken, most of them at American Society of Newspaper Editors' conventions.

Truth be told, the students at Wright Middle School, who were herded into the gym an hour and a half before Barack Obama arrived, showed more patience than those roomfuls of newspaper editors. The kids, mostly 12, 13 and 14 years old, sat on the pulled-out bleachers along one side of the gym and quietly talked among themselves while waiting for the president to show."

Proposed Law Would Fight H1N1 :: WRAL.com

Proposed Law Would Fight H1N1 :: WRAL.com:

"Worried about your family getting the H1N1 flu? Who isn’t? Every day seems to bring changes in which age group is more vulnerable, yet if you’ve called your pediatrician’s office to try to get a shot, you know that the vaccines aren’t coming in fast enough.

We all know that hand washing is our best defense against the flu, but now there’s a plan afoot to tackle the H1N1 pandemic from new angle that makes perfect sense. Under a bill proposed in Congress Tuesday, employers who tell workers to stay home when they are sick will have to give them paid time off for up to five days, Reuters reports. The emergency law would cover the H1N1 flu and other infectious diseases."

Now there’s a real incentive for people to stay home when they’re sick. We’ve all been told to keep our kids home from school when they’re sick and to do the same when we’re ill. The problem is that parents often don’t get paid when they’re sick, so they must choose between earning money and infecting others (while going without rest).

Paid sick leave is not required by U.S. laws. If it were, I suspect we’d have a lot less illness being spread.George Miller, the California congressman who introduced the bill and chairs the House Education and Labor Committee, told Reuters that at least 50 million U.S. workers don’t get sick pay, and many of them are in low-paying jobs with direct contact with the public, such as the food-service and hospitality industry, schools and health care fields.

Physical Education Key To Improving Health In Low-income Adolescents

Physical Education Key To Improving Health In Low-income Adolescents:

"ScienceDaily (Nov. 6, 2009) — School-based physical education plays a key role in curbing obesity and improving fitness among adolescents from low-income communities, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco and UC Berkeley."

The study, which identifies opportunities for adolescents to improve their health based on routine daily activities, finds that regular participation in PE class is significantly associated with greater cardiovascular fitness and lower body mass index.

"We took an incredibly comprehensive look at all of the opportunities kids have throughout their day to engage in physical activity and determined which are the most strongly linked to fitness and weight status," said first author Kristine Madsen, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of pediatrics at UCSF Children's Hospital. "Obesity continues to be a major public health concern, particularly in low-income communities, so it is imperative that we develop targeted interventions to improve the health of at-risk youth."

UC Officials Voice Concerns in Debate Over Proposed Oil Tax - The Daily Californian

UC Officials Voice Concerns in Debate Over Proposed Oil Tax - The Daily Californian:

"Despite the millions of dollars higher education stands to gain under a bill that would impose oil and gas severance taxes, officials from the University of California have expressed concerns about the extent to which the UC system will benefit if the bill passes.

Assembly Bill 656 would levy a 9.9 percent severance tax on all oil and natural gas extracted by oil companies from the state and its ocean holdings beginning in January 2010.
The bill, first introduced by State Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont, has the potential to raise up to $1 billion that would go to funding public higher education"

Media-Newswire.com - Press Release Distribution - PR Agency

Media-Newswire.com - Press Release Distribution - PR Agency:

"(Media-Newswire.com) - Los Angeles -- The Los Angeles Times and the University of Southern California College of Letters, Arts & Sciences today announced they will jointly sponsor a series of six statewide public opinion polls beginning November 8, 2009, and continuing throughout California's crucial 2010 elections for governor and U.S. Senate. This is the first such cooperative venture of this magnitude between a major newspaper and a major research university in the state of California.

The University of Southern California College of Letters, Arts & Sciences/Los Angeles Times Poll will be taken at regular intervals during the next 14 months, and will be designed to survey California residents' attitudes on a wide range of political, policy, social and cultural issues.

'We are extremely pleased to team up with the Times to offer in-depth insight and analysis of the historic 2010 campaign,' said Howard Gillman, dean of USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences. 'The partnership will provide unique experiential learning opportunities for USC College students, and will also enhance the ability of our faculty to address issues that are critical to California's future.'"

District Dossier: Wedding Bells for Michelle Rhee and Kevin Johnson

District Dossier: Wedding Bells for Michelle Rhee and Kevin Johnson:

"District of Columbia Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee has been awfully coy for more than a year about her bi-coastal romance with Kevin Johnson, the former NBA star, charter school operator, and now, mayor of Sacramento.

But there was no hiding the diamond folks apparently spotted on her left hand Wednesday night at an education reform event in downtown D.C. The Washington Post's gossip columnists got on the case and got Rhee herself to confirm the engagement.

Naturally, the first thing most of us wonder is if Rhee will be leaving Washington soon. After all, KJ is only in his first term as mayor of Sacto, his hometown. He's not likely to leave his job for a move East. Rhee has just been through the stormiest stretch of her nearly two and a half year run as chancellor, brought on mostly by her recent decision to lay off nearly 400 district employees, more than half of them teachers."

The chancellor told The Post that she's not leaving D.C. any time soon, and her steeliness and tenacity to turn around decades of failure in the city's school system seems genuine, even if you disagree with her methods. She doesn't seem like a quitter, even for true love.
Still,anyone want to lay odds on how long for D.C. Michelle Rhee will be?

CPR: News Story | Commentary: Mayor needs to collaborate with neighbors

CPR: News Story Commentary: Mayor needs to collaborate with neighbors:

"A year later, Sacramento’s self proclaimed collaborative mayor announced a winter shelter program for the homeless that included a plan to house 105 homeless men, women, and children in the city of Rancho Cordova. Incredibly, Mayor Johnson made his announcement without bothering to consult with the folks in Rancho Cordova.

When Ken Cooley, a city councilman there, read about the plan, he visited the proposed site and found a collection of dilapidated apartment buildings. Most had no stoves or refrigerators. Some had serious mold. When a city employee who accompanied Cooley poked a pen into the wall of one unit, ants came boiling out. Cooley doesn’t necessarily oppose bringing more homeless to Rancho, but he says there’s got to be a plan that includes decent habitation, security, services and programs."

Listen Listen -->

Sacramento Press / Sacramento Steps Forward initiative announced

Sacramento Press / Sacramento Steps Forward initiative announced:

"Thursday morning, journalist Lisa Ling, members of the City Council and the homeless and formerly-homeless community joined Mayor Kevin Johnson in launching the 'Sacramento Steps Forward' initiative. A crowd of several hundred waved blue initiative flags and cheered as Johnson announced his goal 'to end homelessness and focus on permanent housing.'

He applauded permanent housing shelters such as Mercy Housing, Turning Point and Martin Luther King Jr. Village, 3900 47th Avenue, where the launch was held."

Bill change underscores the need for journalists - Dan Walters - Fresnobee.com

Bill change underscores the need for journalists - Dan Walters - Fresnobee.com:

"A batch of amendments to a massive water bond bill was submitted to the state Senate's clerical desk Monday, and one of them, as it turned out, had nothing to do with water.

Later that evening, as the bond bill was being debated on the Senate floor, Sen. Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, asked about the opaquely worded new provision, and was given a vague answer.

However, two reporters for The Sacramento Bee continued to pursue the language on Tuesday because it made an oblique reference to the Sacramento Unified School District. And under questioning, Senate President Pro tem Darrell Steinberg admitted to them that the amendment would earmark $10 million for his pet project, a Sacramento cultural tolerance center."